A fight against the illegal entry of cigarettes, liquor and beer will be carried out by the Government of Huila in coordination with the National Federation of Departments. The strengthening of border control measures will be one of the seven strategies that will be carried out.
A frontal ‘war’ against the smuggling of cigarettes, liquor and beer, both authentic and counterfeit, will be carried out in Huila.
This was announced yesterday by the Huila Treasury Secretariat, stating that the fight will be developed in coordination with the National Federation of Departments, after an inter-administrative agreement that will be in force until December 31, 2025.
Spokespersons from the Treasury portfolio stated that the governor of Huila, Rodrigo Villalba Mosquera, and the executive director of the National Federation of Departments, Didier Tavera Amado, signed the inter-administrative agreement worth $1,642,656,669.
“The agreement is aimed at joining efforts in the fight against the illegal entry of cigarettes, liquor, wines, snacks and beers, both authentic and counterfeit,” said the spokespersons.
They added that the treasury department is working on the design of strategies and implementation of operational plans to confront the illegal trade of products, in addition to the implementation of preventive mechanisms to avoid tax evasion and smuggling. “All in an effort to strengthen the management of the department in terms of compliance with the functions and powers assigned by current regulations.”
They indicated that, in addition, inspection actions will be carried out to verify that liquor distributors and marketers are selling legal products. “It must be made clear to the people of Huila that yellow liquor is a contraband liquor, since the only liquor authorized for distribution and sale in the department is Double Anís, which generates large contributions to sectors such as Health, educational infrastructure, and the sport”.
Strategies
The spokespersons for the Ministry of Finance stated that in 2023, beers, cigarettes, and liquors were seized, valued at nearly $114 million, so Huila stopped receiving more than $67 million in taxes.
To ‘stop’ the loss of these resources, the administrative authorities have seven strategies in the pipeline: Strengthening control operations that will allow the development of more than 3,000 control and operational visits in the 37 municipalities of the department with the support of the public force.
In addition to the inter-institutional strengthening through the support of the DIAN, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Huila Chamber of Commerce, the National Police, among other actors, which will allow activities to be carried out at fairs, parties, concerts, and other massive events, to prevent the marketing of illegal products. .
Awareness and training campaigns will also be carried out on the consumption of liquor, beer, and cigarettes, for establishments such as Asobars, merchants, transporters, and the general population.
The strengthening of border control measures will be implemented, such as carrying out operations on Route 45 – Neiva toll, for the entry of legal products to the Department in coordination with the Huila Transit and Transportation Section and the DIAN.
The authorities will encourage reporting to the population through the payment of rewards for information that leads to the dismantling of clandestine sites for the manufacture and sale of these products.
