Australia, Vietnam launch customs officer training course to improve detection of banned items

A theory training session for Vietnam’s custom officers at Park Royal Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, on May 31, 2016

Organized by the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the five-day training course began its first class at Park Royal Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

The course aims to train customs officials to analyze images from baggage scanners to aid in the identification of illegal drugs, banned items, and smuggled goods stashed in luggage.

Customs officers will have the chance to exchange experiences and apply the course to their security roles at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation under the Vietnam Customs, said that this is the first time the two nations have organized such a course.

“Customs officers always seek out opportunities for collaboration. Tightening surveillance and security is a must to deter illegal transportation of drugs, banned items, weapons, and more,” Nga said.

“We will work to pass the training from the course along to customs pisions at other international airports in the country like Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.”