Related Searches: Tea Vitamin Nutrients Ingredients paper cup packing

Food & Health Ingredients
Health & Nutrition
Processing & Packaging
Starch & Starch Derivatives

Colombian bananas could lose European and US markets due to drug trafficking

foodmate 2018-07-04
Share       

Colombia is at risk of losing access to the banana market in Europe and the United States because of drug trafficking. The contamination of cocaine in banana boxes is a threat to the economy of the Urabá region. That is why Europe and the United States may stop buying from Colombia if drugs continue to arrive in the fruits shipments.

In the Colombian Caribbean, the task force against drug trafficking, Neptuno, has seized 34 tonnes of cocaine so far in 2018. Part of that has been found in containers and in banana boxes that are exported from Colombia to the United States and Europe. The unio of banana workers is concerned that the issue could end up affecting the economy of the Urabá region.

"At the moment, there is a very strong pressure in Europe and supermarket buyers are asking not to consume or buy any more fruit from Colombia due to the drug trafficking issue," said Gilberto Torres Espitia, vice president of Sintrainagro.

According to the Anti-narcotics Police, their suspects break the seals placed on the doors of the containers; they then introduce the packages, hiding them with the legal cargo, and then close the container and place fake seals.

"We have declared ourselves victims of a crime that gives our subregion a very bad press. It also taints the reputation of the export processes in the banana sector," said Juan Camilo Restrepo, president of Augura.

The banana sector is very important, because it generates more than 800 million dollars of foreign currency for Colombia, as well as 23,000 direct jobs and 120,000 indirect jobs. 70% of the economy in the Urabá region relies on the banana agro-industry.

Currently, the anti-narcotics police are carrying out more rigorous controls on the containers and on the fruit intended for export.

E-newsletter

Subscribe to our e-newsletter for the latest food ingredients news and trends.

Tags

Recommended Products

Ejiao peptide

Ejiao peptide

Gu-Tang-Le ADR-1 probiotic capsules

Gu-Tang-Le ADR-1 probiotic capsules

Chloroquine Phosphate

Chloroquine Phosphate

Solid Ink Coding Sealer

Solid Ink Coding Sealer

Top

SJGLE B2B Website : 中文版 | ChineseCustomer Service: 86-400 610 1188-3 ( Mon-Fri 9: 00-18: 00 BJT)

About Us|Contact Us|Privacy Policy|Intellectual Property Statement

Copyright 2006-2023 Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co Ltd (All Rights Reserved). ICP 05034851-121