The National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN) ramped up inspections in free trade zones, airports, and border crossings during the year-end season, leading to the seizure of goods worth over $15 billion. These efforts focused on ensuring compliance with regulations for free trade zone operations and the legal movement of money by international travelers. The checks covered multiple cities and key entry and exit points across the country.
The DIAN has bolstered its customs and exchange control efforts ahead of the year-end holidays, conducting inspections in 13 free trade zones across seven cities: one in Armenia, two in Barranquilla, three in Bogotá, two in Cali, two in Cartagena, one in Cúcuta, and two in Medellín. These operations also covered seven major airports, such as El Dorado in Bogotá and José María Córdova in Rionegro, as well as the border crossings at Puente Rumichaca in Ipiales and Puente Simón Bolívar in Cúcuta.
Among the findings, containers holding footwear, costume jewelry, electronic items, and miscellaneous products were seized, along with 316 bottles of liquor, eight hydraulic pumps, and 20 rolls of heat-shrinkable polymer used for packaging food, beverages, and cosmetics. Additionally, a temporary hold was placed on one vehicle and 14 solar panels, awaiting verification from importers and consignees in various cities.
Exchange control actions targeted international travelers arriving from or heading to cities including Barcelona, Cancún, Caracas, Ciudad de Panamá, México D.F., Madrid, and Miami. "The intensified control actions were carried out in 13 free trade zones in seven cities, seven airports, and two border crossings, with the aim of verifying compliance with regulations for operations to and from the country's free trade zones, as well as the legal movement of money entering and leaving Colombia by international travelers," stated Luis Adelmo Plaza Guamanga, DIAN's Director of Fiscalization Management.
These measures aim to prevent the entry of illegal goods and ensure regulated currency flows during a period of heightened cross-border mobility and trade.
