The Argentine government has introduced strong, new measures to try and curb smuggling into Bolivia. The programme is called "Operation Frontier," and it has had an immediate effect on the illegal flow of goods and currency between the two countries.

SYNOPSIS: The village of La Quiaca on the Bolivia border is a traditional frontier post for smuggler. La Quiaca is some 2,200 kilometres north-west of Buenos Aires and it's the last inhabited area before the bolivian border.

Troops from Argentina's Gendamarie -- a military corps specially appointed for customs and frontier control -- have been reinforced by soldiers from the regular army. Combined patrols now comb the known smuggling regions. Everyone crossing the border is subjected to thorough searches. According to government sources most of La Quiaca's the 15,000 inhabitants got their major source of revenue from handling smuggled goods. They say it was much the same in Villazon, the nearest town in Bolivia.

The government has launched a massive public campaign to stamp out smuggling. Officials say the illegal flow of merchandise between Argentina and neighbouring countries, aided by galloping inflation, caused a black market for many. essentials in Argentina.

So far "Operation Frontier" has proved an outstanding success. The government claims it has almost put a stop to smuggling and that the situation is now firmly under control.