By Zoila Palma: Imports of cigarettes from China have fluctuated sharply over the past 5 years, according to figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB).
The data shows annual cigarette import values ranging from BZ$41 million to BZ$52 million between 2020 and 2024, with a dramatic peak in 2022, when Belize imported more than BZ$52.2 million in Chinese cigarettes.
Imports dipped again in 2023 and held steady in 2024 at just over BZ$41 million, reflecting continued strong demand despite shifting import volumes.
Cigarettes remain one of the highest-value consumer goods imported from China, with several entries showing more than 13 million pounds arriving in some years.
These import trends come amid mounting concerns over illicit cigarette trafficking linked to the Corozal Free Zone—a hotspot that regional officials say is increasingly exploited by smuggling networks.
In November 2025, the Belize Coast Guard intercepted a shipment of illicit cigarettes within the Corozal Free Zone, with evidence suggesting the cargo was destined for Mexico.
Rear Admiral Elton Bennett Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard told News5 that operations have increased in the area and it is believed that the contraband seized in October came out of the Corozal Free Zone.
The bust follows a major bust in October 2024, when Honduran authorities confiscated a large shipment of Chinese-manufactured cigarettes that had originated in Belize and were valued at approximately US$400,000.
Several reports suggest that the Corozal Free Zone has long been described by investigators and crime-watch groups as a hub for “trans-shipment” of tobacco products, including cigarettes originating in Asia.
According to a 2022 report, the CFZ is a center for illicit tobacco that “transits the zone and subsequently exits the country via various ‘blind spots’ along the border,” with a large portion of the contraband moving north into Mexico and other Central American countries.
In addition, cases corroborate this including reports of a smuggling ring linked to Belize was dismantled in Guatemala after dozens of sea shipments reportedly left Belize for Guatemala, then onward to El Salvador and Honduras.
More recently, a 2025 seizure by the Belize Coast Guard intercepted a shipment of illicit cigarettes in the Corozal Free Zone — suspected to be destined for Mexico also corroborates this pattern.
The data showing cigarette imports from China as recorded by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) and the pattern could suggest that the Corozal Free Zone specifically — serves not only as an end destination, but also as a pivotal transit and redistribution point for Asian-manufactured cigarettes destined for other countries.
The post Is Belize a regional trans-shipment hub for Chinese cigarettes? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Imports of cigarettes from China have fluctuated sharply over the past 5 years, according to figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). The data shows annual cigarette import values ranging from BZ$41 million to BZ$52 million between 2020 and 2024, with a dramatic peak in 2022, when Belize imported more than
The post Is Belize a regional trans-shipment hub for Chinese cigarettes? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.