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According to Chi Ma Border Gate Customs Branch, although the branch has not yet deployed the digital border gate platform, enterprises have been declared on the e-manifest system since 2023 in addition to the declaration on the VNACCS/VCIS. This is one of the administrative procedure reform activities of the Customs agency to facilitate imports and exports across Chi Ma Border Gate.

Statistics in the first four months of the year from Chi Ma Border Gate Customs Branch show that on average each day about 60-70 trucks carrying imported goods into Vietnam, and about 4-5 trucks exporting to China with the trade in goods of USD125 million, meeting 82% compared to the same period in 2023. The increase in the import and export turnover has helped the revenue across the area reach VND260 billion, increasing by 201% year-on-year.

Chi Ma Customs and Border Guard Forces inpect smuggled poultry breeds. Illustration photo: Vi Toan

However, when import and export activities at Chi Ma Border Gate resumes the increase, smugglers have abused the situation to illegally transport goods across the border gate.

According to Mr. Luong Van Tho, Deputy Director of Chi Ma Border Gate Customs Branch, smugglers have used sophisticated tricks to outsmart the enforcement agencies such as transporting goods on cross roads or falsely declared name, quantity, category and origin of goods. Many smugglers have even mixed goods with different category products to import them into the country.

According to assessment by the enforcement agencies, although the seizures in recent time have showed the small quantity, smugglers have transported infringing goods in many trips, so if they are gathered, they will be relatively large quantity.

In the first four months of the year, Chi Ma Border Gate Customs Branch coordinated with the Border Guard to inspect and detect two cases of smuggling frozen products across the border gate. Specifically, the enforcement forces seized two shipments of pig feet with a volume of up to 520 kg, worth about VND15.6 million, and four shipments of sausages with a volume of 200 kg, worth about VND20 million. All the infringing goods are frozen goods of unknown origin.

However, when the smugglers were detected by the enforcement agencies, they fled and left the smuggled goods. To fight against all kinds of crimes, the Customs, Border Guards and local authorities have disseminated and recommended border residents not to support the illegal transportation of smuggled goods.

In addition, the two Customs and Border Guard forces also develop plans and take measures to inspect at targeting border areas; strengthen strict control of passengers entering and exiting the border gates.

At the same time, the enforcement agencies perform in peak times of the working day; actively coordinate with enforcement forces at the border gate to patrol and control in yards and cargo loading points to promptly detect and handle suspected cases.