The massive halt in trade of goods at the Mexico-Belize border due to the suspension of the customs broker agency, the Agencia Aduanal, “Servicios Aduaneros Integrados,” has been resolved.
The agency is the only broker agency for the importation and exportation of goods on the Mexico side of the border. This company has been suspended indefinitely, and brokerage services at the border are now being provided by Alfonso Bello Juarez.
The new company began operation on Tuesday, clearing trucks loaded with goods to be processed out of Mexico for onward transportation to Belize and other countries. About 50 trucks had amassed at the border during the 15-day period in which a new company was being selected and put in place.
Free trade between Mexico and Belize and other countries is now back to normal with the operation of this new company.
In announcing the resumption of services, the Mexico Embassy in Belize informed the public that the import/export of goods between Mexico and Belize is currently functioning normally. In Mexico, the import or export formalities are carried out through private companies called “agencia aduanal” (customs brokers), which receive a license (“patente”) from the Government of Mexico through the Internal Revenue Service (SAT).
At the border between Mexico and Belize the only customs broker operating in the area was “Servicios Aduaneros Integrados” (SIA).
In an interview with CTV3, Licenciado Raymundo Loyola, the official in charge of the customs department in Chetumal, said that there were several reasons why SIA’s license was suspended, including lack of information on importation and exportation documents, lack of transparency in declaration and alleged alterations of documents.
The suspension was requested by the Maritime Customs and Border Agency, in collaboration with the Care Tax System. (SAT), which alleges that acts of extortion and over-taxing of goods were being conducted. The agencies allege that they received more than 20 complaints monthly that clients were being overcharged for goods. On goods that were slated to be charged 11 percent, the company allegedly was charging 16 percent, which was illegal. There were several other corrupt practices that the company was allegedly engaged in, said the news agency.