One person arrested and a warehouse dedicated to the illegal sale of toys dismantled

Bogotá, D.C., September 17, 2021.- Search and seizure operations at two (2) properties located in the Los Mártires district of Bogotá D.C. resulted in the seizure of toys of various brands, styles and colors of foreign origin.

In the customs procedure, more than 5,900 toys with an estimated commercial value of $225 million pesos were seized; a citizen was also arrested for the crimes of aiding and facilitating smuggling (Art. 320 of the Criminal Code) and infringement of industrial property rights and plant variety breeders’ rights (Art. 306 of the Criminal Code).

The operation is part of the Intervention and Support Plan for the city of Bogotá and the 90/24 Anti-Smuggling Strategy “Legal Colombia, Safe Colombia,” carried out by the National Tax and Customs Authority (DIAN), with support from the Fiscal and Customs Police Management Office and coordination with the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce.

So far this year, more than 1,800,000 toys have been seized, valued at more than $3.5 billion pesos, along with the seizure of more than 40,000 toys valued at over $1.2 billion pesos. In addition, 3 arrests in the act (1 in Bogotá and 2 in Medellín) have been made for the crime of smuggling. Smuggled toys can be highly dangerous to children’s health, as they may be made with materials that do not meet the minimum quality and safety conditions for children to handle. Therefore, the DIAN and POLFA invite the public to join the civic participation network and promptly report any irregularity or suspicion regarding the illegal sale of goods, by providing truthful and timely information to the anti-smuggling hotline 321-394 2169, email: polfa.anticontraban@policia.gov.co.

At the DIAN, we continue to direct all our actions toward a Colombia with less smuggling, less illegality and more honesty.

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