Contraband cigarettes "spill" into An Giang border

VCN - Many cases of cigarette smuggling in large quantities were caught by functional forces on the An Giang border.
More than 3 million packs of contraband cigarettes seized, the largest ever More than 3 million packs of contraband cigarettes seized, the largest ever
Perak Customs seize contraband cigarettes and alcohol worth over RM2m in two separate raids Perak Customs seize contraband cigarettes and alcohol worth over RM2m in two separate raids
Gần 3.000 bao thuốc lá lậu do lực lượng chống buôn lậu cửa khẩu Vĩnh Xương bắt giữ. Ảnh: T.L

Nearly 3,000 packs of contraband cigarettes seized by Vinh Xuong border gate anti-smuggling force. Photo: T.L

Many smuggling cases seized

Despite being in the peak period of Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control, some suspects took advantage of the night to organize the transportation of smuggled cigarettes across the An Giang border.

At 22:30 on September 1, Vinh Xuong Border Gate Customs Branch (An Giang Customs Department), the Anti-drug force of An Giang Border Guard and Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Border Station coordinated in arresting a person using a motorboat to transport nearly 3,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes from Cambodia to Vietnam. Two suspects involved in the transport took advantage of the night to escape.

On September 2, these two suspects surrendered at the Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Border Guard Station, confessing to transporting contraband.

According to Mr. Tran Tan Loi, Director of Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch, the inter-agency anti-smuggling force at the border gate area operates 24/7, so the situation of goods transportation is significantly reduced.

However, some suspects transported, gathered, and divided smuggled cigarettes in people's houses near the border area. Customs authorities and functional forces at the border gate struggled to fight and prevent this crime.

On August 26, 2021, Police of Vinh Xuong commune, Tan Chau town coordinated with Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Border Guard Station and Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch to conduct an administrative inspection of Mr. Nguyen Van Ngot's house in Vinh Xuong commune (area bordering the border, near landmark 241). Mr. Ngot's house was discovered to contain 240 packs of foreign cigarettes.

Through investigation, Mr. Ngot admitted that the above cigarettes were bought from Cambodia to resell for a profit. On the same day, the working group inspected an abandoned house at group 12, hamlet 5, Vinh Xuong commune, discovering and seizing 449 packs of smuggled foreign cigarettes.

According to An Giang Customs Department, facing the Covid-19 pandemic, functional forces have strengthened checkpoints and closed patrols on the border area to perform the task of pandemic prevention and control, so the smuggling situation is somewhat controlled.

However, on the border areas in some places, smugglers find ways to bring smuggled goods across the border, mainly at night. The suspects chose places far from the checkpoints and then carried the goods on the roads, the suspects used motorbikes or hired people to carry the smuggled goods across the border.

On the river, the suspects took advantage of the terrain with many canals, sometimes a common river, using motorboats with high powered engines to transport goods across the border, avoiding inspection, control of the authorities; hired guards on the roads and in front of the headquarters of functional agencies, inter-sectoral anti-smuggling groups, causing difficulties for detection and arrest.

The reckless smuggling

Recently, the transport of smuggled goods across the border has been carried out by the suspects in large quantities, organized into groups to carry contraband goods across the border, showing boldness and recklessness of the attackers.

The case of three people using motorboats to transport nearly 3,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes mentioned above is typical. According to the leader of Vinh Xuong border gate Customs Sub-Department, when the working group signaled the suspects to stop the vehicle for inspection, they did not comply but drove the vehicle to flee containing smuggled cigarettes into the river, at the same time jumped into the river to escape, causing the task force to go down to the river to salvage the contraband.

In addition, the suspects often organize themselves into groups of people carrying goods across the border at night, when they detected functional forces, the suspects leave their goods to escape. Recently, on the night of August 31, Phu Huu Border Guard Station coordinated with the Anti-drug and Crime Prevention Department (An Giang Border Guard) to organize a secret uniform, handle a smuggling case, and seize 7,000 packs of smuggled foreign cigarettes of all kinds.

At about 2am on August 30, Vinh Nguon Border Guard Station (An Giang) presided over and coordinated with the Task Force on Drug and Crime Prevention and Nhon Hung Border Guard Station to seize 3,850 packs of smuggled cigarettes in the area of ​​Ba Bai hamlet, Vinh Te commune, Chau Doc city, because the suspects left the scene and escaped.

According to the assessment of the Steering Committee 389 of An Giang province, in the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, functional forces have strengthened checkpoints, closed patrols and control on the border area, well controlled the situation.

The illegal transportation of contraband, especially tobacco, a key commodity on the border, makes this item scarce and highly priced. Therefore, the suspects find ways to gather and transport smuggled cigarettes from Cambodia to Vietnam to sell for a profit.

With the above situation, the Customs Department of An Giang province has always maintained to send civil servants to fully participate in the inter-sectoral working groups of An Giang province according to the plan of implementing checkpoints on the border to fight against anti-smuggling and commercial fraud in border areas.

In the future, the unit will continue to further strengthen coordination in anti-smuggling between forces on the border and inland. Highlighting the roles and responsibilities of heads of subordinate and subordinate units in the fight against smuggling and commercial fraud.

By Lethu/Quynhlan

Related News

Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

VCN - The increase in Special Consumption Tax (SCT) needs to ensure a reasonable roadmap to support domestic tobacco businesses to have time to adapt and stabilize production, thereby minimizing the negative impact on employment of workers in the entire value chain of the industry, ensuring social security.
Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

VCN - Every year-end, the smuggling and illegal transportation of prohibited goods tends to increase, especially fireworks and firecrackers. The seizures in recent days show that the illegal trading and transportation of fireworks and firecrackers is getting "hotter".
Handling nearly 7,600 tons of animal protein powder as evidence in smuggling case

Handling nearly 7,600 tons of animal protein powder as evidence in smuggling case

VCN - Nearly 7,600 tons of imported animal protein powder as evidence in the case are handled by the Investigation Police Agency - Ho Chi Minh City Police.
Quang Ninh prevents transportation of smuggled livestock breeds

Quang Ninh prevents transportation of smuggled livestock breeds

VCN – The People's Committee of Quang Ninh province directs departments and branches that are members of the Provincial Steering Committee 389 to strengthen control and prevention of cases of illegal transportation and smuggling of livestock breeds and products across the Chinese border, especially at border gates, trails, and border crossings in Mong Cai, Hai Ha, Binh Lieu, etc.

Latest News

HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

VCN - In the first 10 months of 2024, the HCM City Customs Department uncovered nearly 2,000 violations, with the value of the seized goods estimated at nearly VND 4.4 trillion.
Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

VCN - The General Department of Vietnam Customs has directed units to promptly inspect and reinforce measures to control and prevent smuggling, as well as the illegal transportation of animals and animal products, with a particular focus on pigs.
VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

VCN - From December 15, 2023, to October 14, 2024, market surveillance forces nationwide conducted inspections of 61,079 cases, uncovering and handling 41,725 violations.
Crackdown on counterfeit goods in e-commerce uncovers widespread violations

Crackdown on counterfeit goods in e-commerce uncovers widespread violations

VCN - Although the number of cases uncovered by the Market Surveillance Authority has decreased, the production and sale of goods violating origin, intellectual property, and food safety regulations—especially in e-commerce—have surged compared to last year.

More News

Enforcement authorities busts 67, 000 cases and seizes about 10 tons of drugs

Enforcement authorities busts 67, 000 cases and seizes about 10 tons of drugs

VCN – Since 2022, enforcement authorities have tackled over 67,000 cases and seized over 10 tons of drugs and 7 million synthetic drug pills.
Solutions to prevent or fraud of origin and geographical indication violations

Solutions to prevent or fraud of origin and geographical indication violations

VCN - The Customs Magazine recently interviewed Nguyen Van Hoan, Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Vietnam Customs), to discuss solutions for combating tax evasion, fraud of origin and geographical indication violations in the coming period.
Counterfeit goods in small e-commerce parcels challenge enforcement agencies

Counterfeit goods in small e-commerce parcels challenge enforcement agencies

VCN - The rapid growth of e-commerce has introduced significant challenges for authorities dealing with counterfeit goods. Counterfeit products, often concealed in small parcels sent through e-commerce channels, have become a prominent issue for enforcement agencies.
Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Preventing many cases of importing goods that violate intellectual property rights

Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Preventing many cases of importing goods that violate intellectual property rights

VCN - Many businesses importing goods that violate intellectual property rights have been detected and punished by Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department.
Four business directors face exit bans over persistent tax debts

Four business directors face exit bans over persistent tax debts

VCN - The HCM City Customs Department has issued exit suspension notice for four business directors who have persistently failed to settle their import-export tax debts. The exit restrictions took effect on November 12, 2024.
Prosecuting a trafficking case of drug hidden in air compressors from France to Vietnam

Prosecuting a trafficking case of drug hidden in air compressors from France to Vietnam

VCN - Hanoi City Police have issued a decision to prosecute the case and a suspect for illegally transporting drugs from France to Vietnam.
Search for owners of 59 containers of backlogged machinery and equipment at port

Search for owners of 59 containers of backlogged machinery and equipment at port

VCN - 59 containers of imported goods through Phuoc Long ICD port have not been carried out customs procedures for many months, the Customs has counted and searched for the owners of these shipments.
Lang Son Customs tightens control on imports and exports ahead of Lunar New Year

Lang Son Customs tightens control on imports and exports ahead of Lunar New Year

VCN - As of November 5, 2024, Lang Son Customs Department has detected 1,537 violations within its control zones as part of its year-end enforcement operations. With domestic demand for goods—particularly household items—surging ahead of the Lunar New Year, Lang Son Customs has directed its units to ramp up intelligence gathering and closely monitor high-risk areas, ensuring strict inspection of all imports and exports.
Many high-tax debtors pay taxes after enforcement

Many high-tax debtors pay taxes after enforcement

VCN – Many enterprises with large tax debts ranging from several billion to tens of billions of VND have paid taxes to the State budget after being enforced by the Customs.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

VCN - Every year-end, the smuggling and illegal transportation of prohibited goods tends to increase, especially fireworks and firecrackers. The seizures in recent days show that the illegal trading and transportation of fireworks and firecrackers is gett
HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

In the first 10 months of 2024, the HCM City Customs Department uncovered nearly 2,000 violations, with the value of the seized goods estimated at nearly VND 4.4 trillion.
Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has directed units to promptly inspect and reinforce measures to control and prevent smuggling with a particular focus on pigs.
Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

VCN - VCN - The latest data from the General Department of Market Management, Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that despite many efforts by state agencies, the cigarette smuggling situation is still complicated. The latest data from the General Depar
VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

From December 15, 2023, to October 14, 2024, market surveillance forces nationwide conducted inspections of 61,079 cases, uncovering and handling 41,725 violations.
Mobile Version