President Juan Manuel Santos urged Colombians not to buy smuggled goods in a speech at the opening of the Colombiamoda fashion show in Medellin Tuesday, his presidential news site announced.
“Smuggling causes a lot of damage to the country and reduces employment opportunities,” Santos told the media and fashion enthusiasts.
According to President Santos, smuggling is a major problem facing the apparel industry today. Smugglers do not pay taxes for goods like textiles, removing formal employment opportunities from Colombians.
The Colombian government therefore considers smugglers “high-value targets,” reported Caracol radio.
The president announced the government will adopt a more aggressive policy against smuggling in order to support the growth of the fashion industry and employment.
President Santos called on the public to join the fight by refusing to buy smuggled goods and reporting smugglers to authorities.