Units of the Colombian Navy during two maritime control and security operations carried out in the bay of Tumaco, at the weekend, they found about 36 tons of frozen shrimp, apparently from Ecuador, when they were being transported irregularly.
In the first operation, troops of the Infantry Brigade No.4, attached to the Joint Stabilization and Consolidation Task Force Hercules, found 16,150 kilograms of seafood that was being transported in a boat through the bay of the municipality of Tumaco, without the necessary documents to certify the legality of its origin.
In parallel, units of the Tumaco Coast Guard Station carried out the inspection of a ship in which 19,800 kilograms of frozen shrimp were found by troops. During the search, the crew of the boat did not present the legal documentation proving the authorization for the transport of the food, so the cargo was confiscated.
The 35,950 kilograms of the perishable food were put into custody of the Directorate of National Taxes and Customs - DIAN.
No arrests were made during the course of the two operations.
It should be noted that the irregular transport of perishable foods, especially seafood and fish, represents a great risk to the health of consumers due to the hygiene and cold chain parameters necessary for their conservation are not taken into account. In the same way, the payment of taxes is evaded, hitting the economic development of the region and harming merchants who comply with current regulations for the transport and sale of food.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
