Smuggling crackdown in Constitution: more than 8000 pairs of slippers and 1100 thermoses and mats seized

More than 8,200 pairs of sneakers and over 1,100 counterfeit items, including thermoses and gourds, were seized during a large-scale operation in the Constitution neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The goods, valued at nearly 550 million Argentine pesos, were part of a smuggling network dedicated to selling and distributing illicit products. The operation was carried out by officers from the Judicial Operational Technical Unit (UTOJ) of the Police of the City, supported by the Division of Investigations into Criminal Organizations. The investigation, which lasted two months, uncovered a commercial structure allegedly supplying multiple stores with merchandise entering the country without passing through customs controls. The raids were conducted under orders from National Judge No. 9 in Economic Crimes, Gustavo Meirovich, and targeted 40 businesses located in a commercial gallery on Lima Street near 1700, one of the main wholesale sales hubs in southern Buenos Aires. During inspections, police found a large quantity of sports shoes from various brands that had entered the country illegally, bypassing customs checks managed by the General Directorate of Customs (ARCA). In total, 8,200 pairs of sneakers were confiscated, with a commercial value estimated at approximately 520 million pesos. Alongside this, 1,100 household items, including thermoses and gourds, were also seized, valued at around 27.5 million pesos. These items were being sold in the inspected stores. The operation also resulted in the seizure of three cellphones, laptops, hard drives, cash, and various documents, which will now be analyzed by investigators to determine the scale of operations, identify those responsible for the organization, and reconstruct the commercial route of the goods. According to sources involved in the investigation, the probe began with intelligence and surveillance activities targeting different businesses within the gallery, where intense movement of goods was detected entering and being distributed without the required documentation mandated by customs regulations. As the investigation progressed, it was confirmed that these stores operated not only as points of sale to the public but also as collection and distribution centers for other merchants, prompting the simultaneous raids. During the operations, personnel from various departments of the Police of the City worked alongside specialized staff from ARCA and the Governmental Control Agency (AGC), who assisted in inspecting the merchandise and verifying the irregularities identified. The case has been labeled as a potential violation of Law 22,415, which governs the Customs Code, and the investigation continues to establish the liability of the owners of the raided premises and suppliers feeding the illegal supply chain. All the seized goods have been placed at the disposal of the judiciary.