Customs Chief in Chinese Smuggling Scandal

Mexico — A new revelation in the investigations to clarify the corruption scheme within Mexico's customs system involves the current head of the National Port System Administration in Progreso, Yucatán, retired Admiral Felipe Solano Armenta.

The recent scandal at the Mexican National Customs Agency (ANAM), involving the illegal release of seized Chinese merchandise valued at 500 million pesos, is not a simple anomaly; it is the umpteenth proof that corruption in the customs system is a systemic and unpunished plague.

The Navy, A Uniform That Does Not Guarantee Honesty

The most alarming element of this scheme is the direct implication of Felipe Solano Armenta, a retired Admiral of the Navy, who currently serves as the head of the National Port System Administration in Progreso, Yucatán.

His signature on an apocryphal document to release 33 of 123 seized containers breaks the official narrative that promoted the militarization of customs and ports as the antidote to corruption. The presence of Navy personnel was supposed to bring order, discipline, and a moral shield. This incident demonstrates the opposite: corruption networks are so powerful that they manage to co-opt even high-ranking figures with military training.

A Pattern of Impunity and Simulation

The fraud was not perpetrated in a vacuum. The benefiting companies—such as Altec Manufacturas, Alista Imports, Lam Business, Ensenada Textiles, Textiles Gael, and ATMpacks—are not novices; they have a history of smuggling and customs simulation. This suggests a coordinated operation where the internal corruption network identifies and favors private actors with criminal records, thus ensuring a vicious cycle of crimes.

The figure of 500 million pesos in illegally released merchandise is a direct blow to the public treasury. It is not just money that fails to be collected, but fuel that feeds the informal economy and destroys the competitiveness of companies that do operate within the law.

Official Response: Opacity and Excuses

The response from ANAM has been the expected one: recognition of the fraud and the separation of those responsible. However, the omission of names and exact figures in its official statement is a tactic that seeks to minimize the impact and protect those involved. This opacity not only sows doubts about the true will to get to the bottom of the matter but also perpetuates an environment of impunity.

While the official response is limited to "separating" those responsible without revealing the full magnitude or the names, society has the right to interpret this act as one more attempt to cover the well only after the child has drowned.

The scandal of Admiral Solano Armenta is an alarm bell that cannot be ignored. It is conclusive proof that corruption in Mexican customs is structural and that the solutions implemented so far have been, at best, cosmetic.

Various reports indicate the use of false permits and corruption in Mexican customs for the smuggling of Chinese merchandise, also affecting those in Tamaulipas. The authorities have reinforced surveillance to combat this practice, which threatens the national industry.

Cases of Corruption and False Permits

Recently, it was discovered that customs officials allowed the release of seized Chinese merchandise using false documents. This modus operandi has been recorded in customs across the country, including those in Tamaulipas.

On October 6, 2025, the media outlet Muro Político reported that the Nuevo Laredo Customs denied accusations of corruption and illegal trafficking of merchandise, a common allegation in the region.

On October 4, 2025, the newspaper El Imparcial reported that a former Customs executive was accused of falsifying documents to illegally release Chinese merchandise valued at 500 million pesos to six companies.

In September 2025, a smuggling network in Tamaulipas that evaded the payment of fuel taxes was dismantled, highlighting the existence of criminal structures operating in the region with the help of officials.

Operations and Government Measures

In the face of smuggling from Asia, the Mexican government, through the SAT and the Mexican National Customs Agency (ANAM), has intensified operations in various customs across the country. These actions have resulted in the seizure of millions of pesos in Chinese products, including clothing, toys, and electronic devices.

In March 2025, ANAM seized illegal merchandise of Chinese origin in Pantaco, Mexico City, valued at 300 million pesos. Mexico has announced a national plan to combat the smuggling and piracy of Asian merchandise in all 32 states.

Impact on Industry and the Economy

The massive entry of low-priced Chinese products, many of them smuggled, represents a serious threat to the national industry and formal commerce. These illegal practices evade the payment of taxes, damaging public finances.

In addition to smuggling, customs fraud has been detected, such as the relabeling of Chinese products with the "made in Mexico" label to evade regulations.