SAG of Arica fines up to 200 UTM for smuggling from Bolivia

The Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of the Arica and Parinacota Region applied fines ranging from 8.4 to 200 UTM to eight individuals for importing products of Bolivian origin without sanitary documentation, in resolutions published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile No. 44,588, on Monday, November 2, 2026, Section II (Particular Norms). The highest penalty, 200 UTM, falls upon Juan Apaza Choque, notified via exempt resolution No. 533/2026 (CVE 2887845). The cases were resolved by the regional director of the service, Álvaro Alegría Matus, between January and June 2026, and the infractions were detected between November and December 2025.

Controls on Route 11-CH and in Arica

Most of the procedures originated from joint inspections with Carabineros de Chile on International Route 11-CH, a mandatory axis for commercial traffic from the Chacalluta border. In the highest-value case, the control was carried out at kilometer 97, where truck license plate 2311 SNX was inspected, transporting 30 kg of lime, 30 kg of banana, 50 kg of orange, 40 kg of corn, 30 kg of camelid meat, 150 kg of fresh cheese, 50 kg of herbs, and 50 kg of potato, without documentary support.

The resolutions invoke as a regulatory basis decree law 3,557 of 1981, on agricultural protection; DFL RRA No. 16 of 1963, on animal protection and health; exempt decree No. 510/2016, which authorizes ports for the importation of goods subject to SAG review, and exempt resolutions No. 3,815/2004 and No. 4,027/2023, regarding regulated items and sanitary requirements for dairy products.

Fresh cheese: the most inspected product

Fresh cheese appears in four of the eight cases and concentrates the highest volumes. Juan Francisco Ramos Tola was fined 25 UTM for 300 kg of the product (exempt resolution No. 72/2026, CVE 2887846), while Nieves Chura Huanca received the same penalty for 30 kg found in the cargo area of vehicle license plate ZE7926 (exempt resolution No. 252/2026, CVE 2887844).

In the case of Eusebio Apaza Tancara, the van license plate GGFD11, brand Mitsubishi, model Delica, was transporting 14 kg of husked wheat (mote), 9 kg of coca leaves, and 28 units of cheese; the fine was 100 UTM (exempt resolution No. 218/2026, CVE 2887847). In all these cases, the destruction of the unsupported merchandise was ordered.

Vegetables, eggs, and pesticides

Agricultural products complete the sanctioning framework:

Orlando Colque Poma, 150 UTM for 400 kg of smooth potatoes, 10 kg of garlic, 50 kg of chuño potatoes, 50 kg of corn, and 50 kg of quinoa entered through an unauthorized crossing in a 2005 Hyundai Porter, license plate HXLB-94 (exempt resolution No. 221/2026, CVE 2887840).
Rubén Flores Ramirez, 30 UTM for 47 trays containing 14,100 eggs of the BELLA 20 brand, with bird feed residue and without documentation (exempt resolution No. 402/2026, CVE 2887843).
Edson Luis Claros Lozada, 8.4 UTM for 40 eggs and small quantities of bell pepper, lemon, potato, onion, tomato, garlic, chili, and beet of Bolivian origin (exempt resolution No. 56/2026, CVE 2887842).
Andrés Huanca Tancara, 75 UTM for 150 containers of pesticides of the Novo, Sunfire, Benzotech, and Furaman brands, transported in the vehicle license plate KTLX-83 (exempt resolutions No. 464/2026 and No. 505/2026, CVE 2887849).

Each resolution establishes that payment can be made at any SAG office in the country and that the offender has 10 business days, counting from the notification, to request a review of the act from the National Director.

Impact on border trade

The notifications confirm a sustained inspection pattern regarding the transport of food and agrochemicals crossing the border without SAG certification, with sanctions that escalate according to the volume and type of product. For transporters and merchants in the northern macrozone, the operational message is that the absence of supporting documentation is sufficient to trigger the fine and the destruction of the cargo, regardless of whether the product is declared spontaneously.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile, No. 44,588, Monday, November 2, 2026, Section II (Particular Norms), p. 1 (official reference: CVE 2887840, 2887842, 2887843, 2887844, 2887845, 2887846, 2887847, and 2887849).