The government of President Nayib Bukele continues to deal heavy blows to criminal organizations that affect public finances through smuggling.

Today, minister of Finance Jerson Posada, minister of Security Gustavo Villatoro, Director General of Customs Benjamín Mayorga, and Deputy Prosecutor for the Defense of State Interests Jonathan Mata reported the destruction of 7,618,040 cigarettes, equivalent to 10.28 tons.

“We are not only destroying more than 7.6 million illegal cigarettes. We are sending a clear and firm message: in the new El Salvador, crime has no place and the law must be respected”, said minister Posada.

This result is the result of the Plan Anticontrabando, led by the Ministry of Finance through the Dirección General de Aduanas which has led to significant seizures through operations at various unauthorized border crossings and fiscal routes.

“The illicit cigarette trade has serious consequences: it exposes consumers to uncontrolled products, harms society, manufacturers, and legitimate businesses, destabilizes markets, and allows unfair competition against the legally established industry”, said the head of the Treasury.

The Dirección General de Aduanas continues to implement strategic actions to prevent, detect, and combat merchandise smuggling and other customs offenses, in coordination with the PNC, the Armed Forces, the FGR, and other institutions.