Authorities in Venezuela and Bolivia seize large contraband shipments

In Venezuela, officials from the Superintendency for the Defense of Socioeconomic Rights (Sundde) seized over six tons of contraband in San Cristóbal, Táchira state. The shipment, which entered illegally from Colombia, consisted of 5,000 kilograms of sugar and more than 1,000 kilograms of powdered milk. Governor Freddy Bernal stated that the company linked to the cargo was sanctioned and emphasized that such operations are necessary to protect local producers and ensure sanitary standards, as illegal imports bypass quality controls.

In Bolivia, the National Customs service in Tarija reported the seizure of 95 tons of cigarettes transported in five heavy-duty trucks. The operation, conducted by the Bolivian Police in coordination with Customs, revealed a CIF value exceeding 9 million bolivianos. Authorities estimated that the omitted taxes resulting from this shipment amount to more than 18 million bolivianos.