The Secretary of Fisheries in Sinaloa, Mexico, Flor Emilia Guerra Mena, has brought attention to concerning loopholes in Mexico’s shrimp import controls. According to her statement, illegal shipments of shrimp are finding their way into Mexico through various routes, including the Mexico City airport and the rivers of Chiapas.

Corruption Concerns at Customs

Secretary Guerra Mena criticized the pervasive corruption within customs operations that allow shrimp from South America to enter Mexico illegally. She pointed out that some shipments are fraudulently relabeled in the United States to exploit loopholes in free trade agreements. By falsely declaring origins or identities, these shipments circumvent regulatory scrutiny and gain entry into Mexico’s market, posing a threat to local producers.

Despite these challenges, Secretary Guerra Mena proudly acknowledged Sinaloa’s prominent position as the top producer of shrimp in Mexico. She emphasized that the state has consistently upheld high standards of production quality, reaffirmed by recent certifications that enable continued exports to the United States.