"We get a pin to bring bales of clothing to Mexico, but remember that this is illegal," says Berenice to his clients.For her, sell bases used or new is a thing of every day and has no problems.The clothing business is legal in the United States.

What is illegal is to intern Mexico clothes, because it goes against the law for sanitary issues, as it is also to import new clothing without paying taxes, when it comes to volumes that exceed 500 dollars, the amount that a person has the right to bringas luggage by law.

Despite this prohibition, Berenice "coordinates" with a pin the crossing of a PACA or even an entire trailer for Mexican customs without "difficulties", only the bite necessary to ensure that the Foreign Trade officer does not report the entry of acar, truck or truck with merchandise.

The business is good, says John, a Mexican who crosses the border twice a month to reach the large warehouses used and new in Hidalgo, Texas, where he buys balances from all stores: Macy's, Walmart, Forever 21,JC Penney, among other recognized brands, self -service chains or any firm.

John is the intermediary between an American clothing winery and his clients who sell clothes in Nuevo León, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Mexico and in various cities, especially in markets where each garment can be sold in 20, 50, 80, 100,150 pesos or more, depending on the size and quality of the garment.

Despite the prohibitions to import used clothes in Pacas to Mexico, in 2016 just over 27 million kilos entered a value of 21 million dollars, according to the US Office of Clothing and Textiles Garments.

Specialists, who asked not to be cited, estimate that if the average price is 80 cents per kilo, that is, between 14 or 16 pesos, then the garment enters four pesos.

The United States figures show that in 2015 exports of cobs used to Mexico added 36.5 million kilos, in 2016 it was reduced to 27 million, and it is estimated to reach 30 million during this year.

The sources affirm that most of the clothes are not used, but only 20% have been used and 80% of the remaining merchandise is balance (low -price clothing that has been for a long time in wineries, out of season or withsome factory damage).

Variety in prices

In Hidalgo, Texas, near Reynosa, Tamaulipas, there are many used clothing warehouses that sell bales at 22, 25 and 30 dollars or more each package, while new clothing varies depending on quality, if it is for men, woman or child;Sport or casual.

From the main avenue, large wineries and used clothing sales signs are observed.In some courtyards, huge garbage cans are placed where the preparations that have great defects are thrown, but still those pieces are collected by people who bring them to Mexico.

Libra used clothes are also offered, to cents, per dollar, although some garments are sold above 4.50 dollars the pound —0.453 grams - prices that vary according to the warehouse sales scheme and how used the clothing is.

In one of the premises, Laura, a Hispanic, explains that the quality of the used clothes is one that has a set or that was never used and even brings;is type 2 and 3, which corresponds to clothes with more wear.

He says that they are sold by category of a child, woman and gentleman and that the pieces to be bought cannot be chosen, the packages that are armed have to be purchased.

Even with a change rate of 17 to 20 pesos, a pound blouse must be sold in more than 20 pesos, only to recover the investment.

Price and quality

In this business there are all kinds of prices and qualities.In the case of new clothing, the content of a PACA varies between 100 and 200 pieces, depending on the type of fabric and if it is blouses, skirts, pants, sweaters, and according to the size, man, woman, children, sportswear, winter or spring-summer.

As in the used clothes, the clothing is sold in the wineries and it is offered to coordinate or give the name of the pin that can wear the PACA to Mexico.In the case of used clothes, in one of the wineries are offered bales of $ 475 or more per 100 pieces.These are balances that are sold by brands and that can bring from small to large sizes.

Depending on the winery, it is the type of clothing that is located, but in general they are garments for children, youth and adults.The larger bales being jackets.

Samanta, who serves a place, says they sell bales of the same garment in different sizes and colors.The most expensive the jackets for $ 500 the package with 250 pieces, while 300 sweatshirts for men and women are sold at $ 200.

It means that a new jacket can be sold in 108 pesos on average, although shipping costs need to be added.In the markets of Mexico the jackets are sold in more than 200 pesos.While at the bottom of the winery more than 50 people work classifying clothes, Samanta promises.

In the cellar that she attends not only clothing are sold, there are also household items, furniture, appliances, electronic, blankets, accessories, bicycles, cosmetics and perfumes, among other accessories.

Warns that in new clothes there are different qualities, because some are balances or returns that may be dirty or have damage.

The crossroads

Crossing clothes requires a pin, that person who takes care of taking clothes to the border and passing it through Mexican customs to take them to the national territory.

That is how Héctor is responsible, a Mexican who promises.He passes complete bales trucks and even trailers without problem.

In the case of Samanta, she offers to coordinate the shipment with a pin that will take the product to the final destination.The charges vary: 80 pesos per paca or 15 pesos per pound if the clothes stay at the border, or 22 pesos if it is inside the country, or 9 pesos if it is to nearby cities.

The business is fully controlled, if you want to pay in the United States, a bank transfer must be made or if it is settled from Mexico, the deposit is made to several bench accounts in the country, via a exchange house.

Depending on the winery is the method.With Berenice you have to pay 1,500 pesos for each paca of clothing that passes and the liquidation of this amount can be done in Mexico.

They know that, according to the Tax Administration Service (SAT), when assets are crossed by the United States border to Mexico, merchandise can be admitted for up to $ 300 of articles, but if it is Holy Week, Summer or winter vacations, Mexican passengers can introduce products for up to $ 500, an amount that applies to nationals who arrive by sea or air.

Alleged corruption

The other prohibition established by the SAT by calling "merchandise that cannot enter Mexico" are "used clothes and footwear that are not part of your personal luggage".

However, it is known that preparations enter Mexico violating regulations.A situation that is known in the government, but that they see difficult to fight.

Official and private sector sources, who asked not to reveal their names, agree that the Foreign Trade officers of the General Administration of Customs (AGA) have an average salary of 15 thousand pesos per month, a relatively low amount, which can givefoot to corruption and to admit bribes to let merchandise into national territory.

The problem is known by the authorities, especially in the customs of Tamaulipas, where irregularities are more, but even when there are staff rotations, the situation continues.

Some actions were taken, among them, the AGA initiated 12 administrative procedures for cancellation of Customs Agent Patent because the merchandise did not comply with the legal procedures for its introduction to Mexico.

For example, for not presenting authorities permits or not being registered in the register of importers and declare values other than the importer or exporter, mainly.

However, there are no exact statistics that include cases of agents that have sanctions for importing used or new clothes.

Buy online

It is common to see on the Network pages in Spanish that they ask to contact them, either with calls or messages to telephone numbers of the United States.However, companies take care.

Subsequently the transaction can be carried out by mail and the details of the operation can be followed by WhatsApp.There are marketing companies that offer their products via the Internet from Mexico City.

It is not necessary to go to the United States to buy clothing, distributors who have direct connection with clothing wineries offer it directly in Mexico through Internet pages or via the most famous sales portals in the country.There, bales of “American” clothing are sold for 50 or 60 pesos each garment, or for packages of 100 pieces to 1,500 pesos, 2,500, 5 thousand pesos or more, depending on the type of clothing or the quality of the balance.

The authority knows, but the size of the problem is greater than what can be done to stop it, warns an customs agent, who adds that in the background we are facing the fact that there is a market in Mexico for those clothes.