Contraband Products Replacing Flood Affected Crops?

Assessments are still ongoing to determine the extent of damage Tropical Storm Sara’s recent flooding has caused to the agricultural sector. Prime Minister John Briceño has already hinted that the numbers will be staggering. Meanwhile, reports are coming in that some products are being smuggled into the country and sold on the local market. In San Pedro, for instance, there’s been an influx of contraband watermelon, likely due to the impact on local supplies. Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai was asked about this issue.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“That is one of the problem we have when we have very porous borders. If you have a problem with your production, with your supply then there will be illegal importation. But, San Pedro has always been a problem for us in contraband. Always. That does not surprise me that they have contraband in the market. But again, whenever you have bad weather and you lose you crop, your sweet peppers, your tomatoes, I mean they will try to find a way to import. Our officers go out in the field and ensure that there is no carrots, cabbage, tomato and then they will import. You will find that you give a small license to import cabbage and then a farmer in Valley of Peace have cabbage and then the railing up begins, who never report this. So, it is a constant challenge for us and sometimes farmers don’t report, and sometimes our officers slip up, but if there is no product somebody have to supply it. That is the challenge we have at this time.”