ICE, Chile National Customs Service sign agreement establishing trade transparency unit
Homeland Security Investigations Executive Associate Director Peter T. Edge and Republic of Chile National Customs Service Director General Juan Araya Allende
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Executive Associate Director Peter T. Edge and Republic of Chile’s National Customs Service Director General Juan Araya Allende participated in a signing ceremony on Friday September 30th establishing a Trade Transparency Unit (TTU) in Chile.
The Republic of Chile signed a memorandum of understanding memorializing the partnership between ICE HSI and Chile’s National Customs Service. The establishment of the TTU will enhance the detection of trade-based money laundering and commercial fraud violations.
HSI will provide Chile’s National Customs Service with access to the Data Analysis and Research for Trade Transparency System, an HSI computer system that contains domestic and foreign trade data and allows users to see both sides of the trade transaction, making the transaction transparent. This access will provide both HSI and Chilean Customs the tools necessary to identify international trade anomalies and financial irregularities indicative of trade-based money laundering, customs fraud, movement of counterfeit goods and other import-export crimes.
“The establishment of this TTU will play a critical role in thwarting money laundering and transnational crime,” said Peter T. Edge, HSI’s Executive Associate Director. “We are looking forward to continued collaboration with Chilean Customs in this important venture.”
This agreement brings the total HSI TTU international partners to 14.
Through its International Operations, HSI has 63 operational attaché offices in 47 countries around the world. HSI Special Agents work closely with foreign law enforcement agencies on dismantling transnational criminal organizations through their use of illicit trade, travel and finance.
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