According to data offered in a forum on illicit trade connection centers in free zones of Central America, in the case of Panama the National Customs Service in 2022 seized the equivalent of 10,360,236 dollars in illegal cigarettes, 73,133 dollars of liquor and 229,449 dollars in cases of medicine smuggling.

Panama’s strategic location is an attractive factor for criminal enterprises dedicated to illicit trade, corruption, money laundering and financing terrorism.

In this regard, they pointed out that some illicit trade hubs are notoriously characterized by a high level of financial secrecy in anti-money laundering regulations and are attractive for criminal networks.

Marissa Lasso de la Vega, President of Panama’s Alliance Against Illicit Trade, also pointed out that the country needs to continue promoting and developing capacities and resources at the national and international level to guarantee an energetic and effective fight against this problem that has devastating effects on the economy, security and public health. The findings disclosed in this forum should be a wake-up call for immediate action by all sectors to strengthen efforts in the fight against illicit trade, she added.

During the forum, the Latin American Association of Industrialists emphasized that the relationship between illicit trade and international organized crime is not exclusive to Panama, as it is a threat to the financial and security systems of the entire region.

The meeting took place in Panama City, just a few months before the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol on Illicit Trade, to be held here in November.

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