The executives of the National Association of Millers (Analmo) of Panama met with a technical team from the Customs Authority, led by Logistics Deputy Director Reynaldo Bello, to address the growing problem of rice smuggling in the western part of the country. During the meeting, the Customs team presented the measures implemented to combat this illicit activity, including control operations, process digitization, complaint boxes, and closer collaboration with entities such as the Colón Free Trade Zone, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), and the agricultural sector groups. These actions aim to ensure better tracking of goods and to penalize those who break the law. It was highlighted that the province of Colón, the seaports, and the Colón Free Trade Zone are sensitive areas due to the transit of food products, including rice, which is often sold illegally in the zone. In turn, Analmo presented various concerns and suggested alternatives to curb smuggling, emphasizing the importance of implementing a traceability system for rice shipments. Furthermore, the need to protect brands during operations and to have access to statistical information on the retention of agricultural products was underscored.
