Users of the Mexican Customs Office (ANAM) , including transporters, customs agencies, direct clients and importers, held a demonstration in front of the central offices of the National Customs Agency of Mexico , in Mexico City, to denounce a series of abuses that the Mexican Customs Office, located inside the Ferrovalle intermodal terminal , has had with them and demanded an improvement in the service.

The protests began at the customs facilities, located on the Central Railway Station in the Azcapotzalco municipality, and then advanced to the “El Caballito” building , where the offices of the Tax Administration Service (SAT) are also located , and were received by authorities.

Among the complaints are excessive inspection times and detention of merchandise ; mistreatment of transporters by customs personnel; and changes implemented without prior notice, such as adding yellow to their traffic lights.

Alejandra Mendoza, a transport worker, denounced mistreatment by customs personnel and called for improvements in customs operations, as it is one of the main hubs for supplying merchandise to the nation’s capital and its metropolitan area.

“We have operators whose merchandise isn’t inspected and who can’t get off the vehicle. They can spend three or four hours inside the vehicle, and they’re not even allowed to go to the bathroom or eat. So, it’s something that can’t be happening anymore during this time of high temperatures,” he said.

Mendoza noted that there is cargo that has not been released and noted that there are at least 1,500 containers inside the customs office , and that he has even taken possession of the unit, without being able to remove it from the area and continue working.

For his part, Alberto Rojas, head of land transport, expressed his annoyance at the detention of containers at customs, the delay in inspection, which can last three to four days, and the complaint about bribes that customs itself is demanding .

“Today, we realize that the same authorities are the ones who want to rob you with their handouts, with their invented taxes, with their withholdings. It’s all their doing. The people here have to pay to keep working. That’s what we’re here to demand, to find out what they’re going to do, how they’re going to solve it,” he said.

After speaking with authorities, users reported that a customs inspection would be carried out next Monday to clear the backlogged operations. They also warned that if the promised inspection is not carried out, the protests could escalate.

In early May, the Mexico Valley Railway and Terminal (Ferrovalle)  announced that it had requested the suspension of container cargo transits from the port of Lázaro Cárdenas, due to difficulties “unrelated to the operation” in carrying out customs clearance at its intermodal terminal, which has resulted in high occupancy at its facilities, reaching almost 94% of their capacity.

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