​[ES Español]

2nd Combating Illicit Trade Summit
of Customs Directors-General
DIAN / TRACIT co-hosted event
Americas Region | April 8-9, 2025 | Cartagena, Colombia

The 2nd Summit of Customs Directors-General of the Americas convened senior Customs officials from 27 countries across the region for high-level discussions on the fight against illicit trade. Co-hosted by Colombia’s Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN) and TRACIT, the Summit provided a vital platform for strengthening regional cooperation, exchanging intelligence, and reinforcing public–private collaboration.  

​Delegates engaged in strategic dialogue aimed at improving the detection, disruption, and deterrence of illicit trade  across key sectors such as pharmaceuticals,  alcohol, tobacco, pesticides, counterfeit goods, deforestation, and wildlife trafficking. 

The agenda also focused on a series of shared regional challenges critical to strengthening customs enforcement and cooperation. Discussions addressed the need for more effective coordinated border management, strengthened risk assessment and intelligence-sharing systems, and robust responses to the growing challenges posed by e-commerce and counterfeit goods. Additional priorities included improving container security, promoting environmentally sustainable (“green”) customs practices, and advancing the regulation and certification of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) to ensure they are not exploited for illicit trade activities.
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Distinguished speakers included:

• Luis Eduardo Llinás Chica, Director General, Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN), Colombia
• Raphael Eugenio de Souza, General Coordinator of Brazil’s Customs Enforcement National Coordination
• Marcelo Mignone, Subdirector General de Técnico Legal Aduanera, Argentina
• Soraya Valdivieso, Director, National Customs Authority (ANA), Panama
• Juan Francisco Olmedo, General Manager of Customs, Paraguay
• Alejandra Arriaza Loeb, Director, National Customs Service of Chile
• Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, Director General of Customs, Dominican Republic
• Lic. Rafael Marín, Head of the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM)

A highlight of the Summit was the collective adoption of a Joint Declaration on Illicit Trade Mitigation, reaffirming the crucial role of Customs agencies in defending national economies, protecting public health, and safeguarding the environment. The Declaration calls for enhanced international cooperation, more effective enforcement of existing laws, and greater participation by Customs in global trade and security forums.

The Cartagena Summit builds on the momentum of the 1st Summit held in Panama City in 2024, further cementing this unique forum as a cornerstone for Customs cooperation in the Americas.
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Summit Documents​

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• Summit Agenda:  English / Español​
• ​Official Media Release: English / Español
• Joint Statement on Illicit Trade Mitigation / Declaración conjunta con miras a mitigar el comercio ilícito

TRACIT Report

• Illicit Trade in Free Trade Zones: A Focus on Five Key Zones in Central and South America (2025)
• ​​El comercio ilícito en las zonas francas: Un enfoque en cinco zonas clave de América Central y del Sur [Versión en español]

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Featured Report

Illicit Trade in Free Trade Zones – Focus on Central and South America
TRACIT's latest report shines a spotlight on how Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in Central and South America are being misused to facilitate illicit trade. With a focus on five key zones—Aruba, Belize, Chile, Curaçao, and Panama—the report identifies regulatory loopholes, weak enforcement, and lack of transparency as major vulnerabilities. It also offers concrete policy recommendations to help governments and zone authorities close these gaps and restore integrity to legitimate trade. 

Illicit Trade in Free Trade Zones – Focus on Central and South America
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El comercio ilícito en las zonas francas: Un enfoque en cinco zonas clave de América Central y del Sur [Versión en español]

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Images

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