An Giang Customs: Preventing many cases of illegal currency transport and tax fraud

	An Giang Customs focuses on facilitating and controlling specialized exports
	More than 50 import – export enterprises participate in dialogue with An Giang Customs
	An Giang Customs collects over VND 3 billion in tax debt

Customs officers at Tinh Bien international border gate check luggage through scanners. Photo: T.H

Preventing more than VND646 million from illegal transportation

According to the assessment of An Giang Customs Department, in the first half of 2024, the situation of smuggling activities and illegal transportation of goods across the border in the customs operating area has no complicated developments and no hot smuggling spots, lines, and groups. However, it posed high risks of smuggling and illegally transporting currency, drugs, and gold across the border.

An Giang Customs Department presided over the discovery and seizure of 2 cases of illegal currency transportation across the border with a total value of VND646,958 million. Recently, the Director of Tinh Bien Border Gate Customs Branch signed a decision to prosecute a case for the crime of "Illegal transportation of currency across the border" and handed over the files and evidence of the case to the Investigation Police, Tinh Bien Town Police to continue investigating. Previously, through screening the luggage of passengers entering the country, the working group discovered a suspicious suitcase owned by Mr. Hong Tan Qui. Through physical inspection of this suitcase, the Customs found that Mr. Hong Tan Qui was carrying VND350 million without customs declaration when entering into Vietnam.

Previously, on April 25, 2024, through checking passengers' luggage at the entry channel, Khanh Binh Border Gate Customs Branch discovered two suspects illegally bringing nearly VND280 million, US$830, KHR49,000 from Cambodia to Vietnam. After making a red-handed crime report, Khanh Binh Border Gate Customs Branch established a violation record and coordinated with the People's Procuracy and Police to investigate and clarify and handle according to regulations.

On June 12, 2024, through area management and receiving information from the public in the border belt area of ​​Group 3, Tan Khanh cluster, Long Binh town, An Phu district, An Giang province, the authorities arrested a person using a motorbike to illegally transport more than US$530,000 to Cambodia.

In addition to promptly detecting and preventing cross-border currency transportation cases, An Giang Customs Department assessed that smuggling activities on the border of An Giang province do not have complicated developments but always have many potential risks of drug transportation. In recent times, An Giang Customs Department has coordinated with the Police and Border Guard to seize two drug cases and confiscate over 1kg of drug.

An Giang Customs Department always closely follows, properly and flexibly applies customs control measures according to regulations; direct its units to strengthen coordination in patrolling, controlling and exchanging information with authorities; maintain operations of the inter-sectoral station; thereby, contributing to reducing and controlling the situation of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across borders.

Transferring to the police to investigate tax fraud case

Also in recent times, An Giang Customs Department has focused on preventing loss of state budget revenue through specialized inspection work.

Recently, the Inspection Team of An Giang Customs Department inspected and discovered that Hong Van An Giang Import-Export Co., Ltd. did not include all fees in declared value of goods as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 6 of Circular No. 39/2015/TT-BTC dated March 25, 2015 of the Ministry of Finance regulating customs value for exported and imported goods, amended by Clause 5, Article 1 of Circular No. 60/2019 /TT-BTC dated August 30, 2019 of the Ministry of Finance.

The company's violations resulted in the company falsely declaring the customs value and underpaying the prescribed tax amount. An Giang Customs Department has assessed tax of more than VND3.1 billion in 13 customs declarations of this company; a late payment fine of over VND453 million. At the same time, through verification and discussion with authorities, An Giang Customs Department issued a decision to transfer the violation case showing signs of crime to the Police Investigation Agency, An Giang Provincial Police for further investigation to clarify tax evasion.

In addition to the above case, in the first five months of 2024, An Giang Customs handled 26 violations, including 5 smuggling cases, increasing four cases and VND531,105 million compared to the same period in 2023. An Giang Customs Department has prosecuted one criminal case with a value of VND350 million, transferred 1 tax fraud case to An Giang Police.

In the coming time, An Giang Customs Department directs units to strengthen the implementation of customs control measures; strictly implement customs procedures for imported and exported goods and vehicles and strengthen investigation to understand the situation, collect information, and pay attention to high-risk entities.

At the same time, carrying out customs procedures for import and export goods and means of entry and exit in accordance with the procedures and regulations of the law; strictly implementing the inspection and supervision of means of entry and exit according to regulations; actively supporting and resolving difficulties and problems for businesses according to authority; creating favorable conditions for businesses on the basis of compliance with law; continuing to monitor the request to the People's Committee of An Giang province to determine the scope of border gate areas under its jurisdiction and propose to the Government to determine the scope of international border gate areas and main border gates in the province; reviewing and arranging yards for cleared export goods at Tinh Bien international border gate... to ensure effective customs inspection and supervision.

Reviewing and checking the actual operations of yards, warehouses, and accredited goods inspection locations at border branches to report to the General Department of Customs for consideration and recall for places that do not meet the conditions. Strengthening the management of investment, processing, and export production to ensure convenience and tightness.

For tax work, strengthening the prevention of revenue loss through supervision, inspection of customs procedures, post-customs clearance audit, specialized inspection, and fight against smuggling and trade fraud; focusing on checking the types, subjects, and conditions of tax incentive policies; preventing fraud in quantity, value, codes, tax rates, origin, trademarks, etc.