Customs: Focusing on smuggling during Lunar New Year 2020

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Anti-smuggling forces will organize patrol operations. In the photo: High-speed anti-smuggling patrol fleet at sea. Photo: M. HUNG

High risk of drugs and origin fraud

Speaking to Customs Newspaper, Director of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department (General Department of Customs) Nguyen Hung Anh said that due to increasing consumer demand, the Lunar New Year is always a high risk occasion with smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of goods across borders.

“The process of combating, arresting and handling recent violations shows that smuggling is not only confined to a few key areas, but also covers all routes from land, sea and air border gates, even express delivery is used," Nguyen Hung Anh said.

According to the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department, in the future, especially in the Lunar New Year, the key areas will spread across the country.

In particular, the roads linking Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, An Giang, Long An, Tay Ninh, Kien Giang and Binh Phuoc. International sea and river routes in the port areas of Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Dong Nai, the Northeast Sea and the Central Region. Air routes and post offices such as Noi Bai International Airport, Da Nang, Tan Son Nhat, Hanoi Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City and international express carriers.

Smugglers in the border areas that are fluent in the language of neighboring countries will link with foreigners to organize lines and groups to transport smuggled goods with help from the owners of a car and other means of transportation.

At sea, the Customs forces are especially wary of crew members and businesses that regularly register for inspection during peak hours, regularly cancel approved declarations, and temporary export and import business enterprises, bonded warehouse.

The air routes and post offices are easily used by passengers on exit or entry, flight attendants, enterprises engaged in import and export activities via air, post office and senders, and receiving parcels.

Key products are identified as imported goods with high tax rates and essential consumption during Tet such as wine, beer, cigarettes, cosmetics and food. In addition, wildlife, garbage, drugs, weapons, foreign currencies are also assessed as high-risk groups.

Effective advice and fierce combat

In order to proactively handle the situation and effectively fight against crimes of smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of goods across borders, especially during the upcoming peak season, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department is presiding over, developing and submitting to the leaders of the General Department of Customs for promulgating a peak plan on combating smuggling, trade fraud, fake goods and illegal transportation of goods across borders on the occasion of the Lunar New Year in 2020.

The crucial target is to strictly implement the directions of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Steering Committee of 389 and the Ministry of Finance on the prevention and combat of smuggling, trade fraud, fake goods, and illegal transfer of goods across borders during the Lunar New Year 2020.

In particular, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department must perform two key tasks simultaneously. Firstly, to advise and assist the leaders of the General Department of Customs amd the Ministry of Finance in effectively implementing the directions of the Prime Minister, the heads of the Steering Committees on the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, illegally transporting of goods across borders. Along with that, they will help leaders of the General Department of Customs direct the implementation of customs control operations in the whole industry.

Secondly, leaders of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department directed professional units to intensify information collection and handle the situation; patrolling, controlling and sticking to areas, especially key areas; organize the struggle against lines and groups, in which focus on banned goods, affecting security and order in society and people's health. Leaders of the Anti-smuggling Investigation Department said that it is normal to work eight hours a day, but during the upcoming peak occasion, the units and officials must deploy tasks 24/7.

Especially, according to Director Nguyen Hung Anh, grasping the direction of General Director of Customs Nguyen Van Can at the Conference on coordinating the implementation of customs control, anti-smuggling before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2020 was organized by the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department on October 18, the unit will continue to improve the content so that the plan is issued to ensure the feasibility and achieve the highest efficiency in practice.