Family Reports Abuse and Corruption at Ciudad Juárez Customs Bridge

A family from Ciudad Juárez filed a public complaint regarding abuse and corruption at the Córdova de las Américas customs on Friday, the 28th. The family, consisting of two adults and three children, including two minors, was returning from shopping.

While passing through Mexican customs, they received a green light. However, personnel from the National Guard stopped them. During the inspection, they presented their purchase receipts, which were in order. Then, officials requested vehicle documents and claimed the vehicle would be seized because it had been regularized under a decree that prohibited crossing into the United States and returning to Mexico.

Agent Job Abelino Calderón informed them of the seizure or the need to negotiate. They refused to cooperate and began recording the situation with their cell phones, describing it as an “abuse.” Another individual, identified as Chief Anthony, intervened and took them to the police station. They were detained from noon until 6 PM and ended up paying three fines.

Each fine for using cell phones in the customs area was 8,020 pesos, totaling 24,060 pesos. The newspaper requested an official version of the events from the National Customs Agency but has not received a response yet.