Contraband goods increases on An Giang border

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An Giang province's interdisciplinary anti-smuggling force seizes smuggled cigarettes on May 8, 2024. Photo: N.T

Prosecuting storage of contraband cigarettes

According to Steering Committee 389 of An Giang province, after a period of lull, the transportation and storage of contraband cigarettes has tended to increase and become complexity, the interdisciplinary force anti-smuggling of An Giang province (including: Police, Customs, Market Surveillance, Border Guard) has continuously seized many cases of transporting and gathering contraband cigarettes.

Through the work of understanding the situation, the force identified that a number of subjects gather contraband goods at an empty lot in group 10, Xuan Bien village, Tinh Bien ward, Tinh Bien town, An Giang province, about 5.50 p.m on May 8, 2024, the Economic Police Team, Tinh Bien Town Police presided over and coordinated with Tinh Bien International Border Guard Station, Tinh Bien International Border Gate Customs Branch, Nhon Hung Border Guard Station, Market Surveillance Team No. 2, Tinh Bien - Tri Ton Regional Tax Branch and Tinh Bien Ward Police conducted an inspection of the above area and discovered many sacks containing 1,000 packs of contraband cigarettes.

Also according to Steering Committee 389 of An Giang province, cigarette smugglers often take advantage of the dark night to use motorboats to transport smuggled goods from Cambodia to Vietnam. In the first two weeks of May 2024 alone, An Giang anti-smuggling forces discovered and seized more than 10 cases of transportation and gathering of cigarettes. Typically, early morning on May 12, during patrol and control in the area of ​​Vinh Chanh 3 cluster, Vinh Nguon ward, Chau Doc city, An Giang, the Working Group of the Economic Police Division of the Provincial Police An Giang discovered a person driving a motorboat from Cambodia to Vietnam, suspected of transporting prohibited goods, so the working group monitored and inspected. When the boat just arrived at the dock (near checkpoint No. 4, Vinh Nguon Border Guard station), the working group arrested the person and seized the motorboat carrying 1,250 packs of contraband cigarettes.

Notably, at the end of April 2024, An Giang Police prosecuted a criminal case, accused Doan Van Sang of not leaving his place of residence, belonging to Group 3, Tan Dong hamlet, Tan An commune, Tan Chau town on the act of storing prohibited goods. Accordingly, on April 29, 2024, the authorities discovered and caught Sang's house red-handed hiding 1,500 packs of foreign-brand Scott cigarettes and 100 packs of foreign-brand Jet cigarettes.

At the police station, Doan Van Sang confessed to hiding 1,500 packs of foreign-brand Scott cigarettes waiting for a strange man to pick them up to receive money, while 100 packs of foreign-brand Jet cigarettes were bought by Sang from a stranger and keep them in your house to resell. According to An Giang authorities, before the arrest, Doan Van Sang had repeatedly committed the act of "possession of prohibited goods", each time from 500 to 1,000 packs of foreign cigarettes.

Seizing a series of trucks carrying suspected contraband goods

In addition to contraband cigarettes, the interdisciplinary anti-smuggling force of An Giang province discovered and seized many cases suspected of transporting contraband goods in large quantities.

On May 14, at Chau Doc bus station area (Vinh My Ward, Chau Doc city, An Giang province), the working group included: Economic Police Division; Market Surveillance Teams No. 1, No. 4 - Market Surveillance Department of An Giang province and interdisciplinary forces of An Giang province discovered three trucks containing many goods of foreign origin including: 150 thermos bottles , 2,400 fruit and vegetable blenders of all kinds, 400 speakers, 865 pairs of slippers of all kinds, 1,128 electric fans of all kinds, 680 sets of stainless steel pots. At the time of inspection, the drivers of the three trucks did not present invoices and documents to prove the origin of the goods.

Previously, on May 10, 2024, the working group including the Economic Police Division of the Provincial Police; Market Surveillance Team No. 1 - Market Surveillance Department of An Giang province and interdisciplinary forces of An Giang province inspected a truck with license plate number 50H-209.76 at Phu Hiep zone, An Phu ward, Tinh Bien town and discovered a large amount of infringing goods, including: 31,521 sets of clothes; 20,729 fan components; 849 products are medicines and nutrition foods; 6.6 tons of coffee beans; 98 pairs of Adidas plastic sandals, valued at more than VND1.3 billion. At the time of inspection, the driver Nguyen Van Duyen (born in 1974, residing in Can Dang commune, Chau Thanh district, An Giang province) could not present invoices and documents proving the origin of the above goods.

From the above situation, Steering Committee 389 of An Giang province requested anti-smuggling forces to strengthen patrols, inspections, and controls of border gate areas, trails, and openings on the border to detect and prevent, promptly handle smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across borders, focusing on sugar, cigarettes, consumer goods...; proactively coordinate with other authorities to promote synergy and create fundamental changes in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the province.