Guatemala Steps Up Customs Enforcement

By Mayora IP

Guatemala's Tax Administration Superintendency (SAT) seized merchandise valued at approximately USD 3 million between January and March 2026, according to official agency figures. The total corresponds to 587 individual seizures carried out through interagency operations at critical points across the country. 

The operations were coordinated under the Interagency Commission against Contraband and Customs Fraud (COINCON), which logged 626 coordinated actions during the quarter. Of those, 381 detections were recorded at interagency control posts and 100 road operations were directly coordinated by SAT. An additional 51 incidents were registered at customs checkpoints and 21 raids were conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office. 

Beyond seized merchandise, fiscal adjustments and additional tax collection measures at customs generated USD 23.9 million during the same period. In the area of intellectual property, SAT documented 63 cases of rights violations. The Ministry of the Interior reported six additional detections and four separate customs operations. 

Guatemala occupies a strategically sensitive position as a commercial corridor between Mexico and the rest of Central America. Counterfeit products are increasingly distributed across Guatemala, and the country's proximity to Mexico, access to loosely controlled seaports, and corruption have historically facilitated illicit trade networks. 

Guatemala on the U.S. Watch List

The enforcement activity comes as Guatemala remains under scrutiny from U.S. trade authorities. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) placed Guatemala on its Watch List in the 2026 Special 301 Report, an annual review of intellectual property protection and enforcement practices among U.S. trading partners. The report specifically identified Guatemala as one of several countries with high levels of online piracy and insufficient enforcement during the review period. 

The Special 301 Report calls for effective enforcement regimes in courts, by law enforcement, and at the border, so that IP owners can defend their rights when those rights are infringed. 

COINCON's Interagency Structure

COINCON is chaired by the Tax Administration Superintendency and also includes the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Attorney General's Office. The commission's operations target both customs fraud and contraband smuggling, with outcomes that include merchandise seizures, fiscal recovery measures, and criminal complaints filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office. 

The Ministry of the Interior's Ports, Airports and Border Crossings Division (DIPAFRONT) has also participated in joint operations, covering ports, airports, and land border crossings as part of the coordinated enforcement strategy. 

Sources: SAT Guatemala (via Infobae Guatemala), COINCON official reports, USTR 2026 Special 301 Report, Organized Crime Index 2023.