Illicit Trade Summit of the Americas

Illicit Trade Summit of the Americas - Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade

Welcome to the Third Illicit Trade Summit - Americas Region

Welcome address from Raphael Eugênio de Souza, Federal Taxation Agency's general coordinator for combating smuggling and tax evasion.

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Registration information

DATE: 14 - 16 April 2026
LOCATION: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

VENUE: Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro

Book your accomodation

Summit attendees enjoy a special hotel rate
Limited rooms available

IMPORTANT MATERIALS

Summit Agenda: English / Español / Português
Media Release: English / Español / Português

SPEAKERS

Jeffrey Hardy, Director-General at TRACIT
Fabiano Coelho, Undersecretary of Customs
Administration, Special Secretariat of the
Federal Revenue of Brazil
Sandra Liliana Cadavid Ortiz, Director General of Customs, Colombia
Jose Benjamin Mayorta Osorio, Director General of Customs, El Salvador
Velma Ricketts Walker, CEO & Commissioner of Customs, Jamaica
Claudia Avila Connelly, Director General of Customs and International Affairs, Mexico
Danys Antonio Ortiz, Director General of Customs, Nicaragua
Soraya Valdivieso, Director General of Customs, Panama
Juan Olmedo, Director General of Customs, Paraguay
Sherman Emmanuel, Comptroller of Customs, St. Lucia

Schedule of Events

Tuesday 14 April
15h-19h: Registration and badge pick-up
19h-20h: Welcome reception

Wednesday 15 April
07h45: Registration
09h: Opening ceremony and keynote addresses
11h-17h30: Roundtable discussions with customs DGs
19h: Gala reception and dinner

Thursday 16 April
09h: Keynote addresses and special interventions
11h-17h: Roundtable discussions with customs DGs
17h: Closing ceremony

Confirmed customs official participants:

ARGENTINA
Mr. Diego Carlos Figueroa
Deputy Director General for Customs Control

ARUBA
Mr Roderick Croes
Director of Customs

BONAIRE, SINT EUSTATIUS and SABA
Claudia Toet
Director Customs and Tax

BRAZIL
Fabiano Coelho, Undersecretary of Customs Administration, Special Secretariat of the Federal Revenue

COLOMBIA
Sandra Liliana Cadavid Ortiz
Director of Customs Administration

EL SALVADOR
Jose Benjamin Mayorta Osorio
Director General of Customs

JAMAICA
Dr. Velma Ricketts Walker
CEO & Commissioner of Customs

MEXICO
Dr. Claudia Avila Connelly
Director General of Customs and International Affairs

NICARAGUA
Danys Antonio Ortiz
Director General of Customs

PANAMA
Licda. Soraya Valdivieso
Director General of Customs

PARAGUAY
Juan Olmedo
Director General of Customs

PORTUGAL
Helena Borges
Director General

SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Mr. Selwyn Da Silva
Comptroller of Customs and Excise

ST. LUCIA
Sherman Emmanuel
Comptroller of Customs

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Darren Bhola
Customs and Excise Supervisor

URUGUAY
Mr. Miguel Palumbo
Manager of Risk Management and Control

Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsorship brochure

Join us as a sponsor and connect with top decision-makers across the Americas. Multiple sponsorship options are available.

For more information, contact Jane Clark.

Summit preparation

INTERVIEW SERIES

In the lead-up to the Summit, TRACIT is conducting a series of short interviews with Customs Directors-General and senior officials across the Americas to capture current priorities, emerging threats, best practices, and technology needs.

Watch the interview series here

COMPENDIUM OF BEST PRACTICES

These interviews are complemented by a Pre-Summit Survey, whose results will inform Summit discussions and feed into a Compendium of Best Practices highlighting practical and replicable approaches shared by Customs administrations.

Access the Compendium of Best Practices here (coming soon)