Panamanian producers report that every week between 5 thousand and 7 thousand hundredweight of tomatoes enter the country illegally from Costa Rica, in addition to other agricultural products.

Producers in the province of Chiriquí claim that smuggling from the neighboring country is not limited to agricultural products, but also occurs with materials for production. Tomatos are the product that arrive in the greatest volume from Costa Rica, but also illicitly entering are carrots, potatoes, onions, yams and bananas, according to producers.

See also: “Crops in Central America – What and How Much”

Francisco Rodríguez, regional administrator of the National Customs Authority in Chiriquí, acknowledged to Prensa.com “… the clandestine entry of agricultural products from Costa Rica and said that this has forced them to redouble their controls.”

“… Costa Rican tomatoes are sold to intermediaries at a price ranging from 30 to 35 cents, while the local fruit is traded in a range of 50 to 57 cents.”