Customs seizes 140 cases and more than 1 ton of drugs in the first half of 2023

	Dien Bien Customs seizes 14,000 pills of synthetic drugs
	Customs seizes 20 drug-related offences
	Customs seizes over 500kg of drugs

C04 and Hanoi Customs Department co-chaired and coordinated with other authorities to seize 5.6 kg of cocaine in early June 2023.

Presiding over 70 cases of drug violations

In the release on the afternoon of July 5, 2023, the General Department of Customs assessed that cross-border drug trafficking tends to increase with more sophisticated methods and tricks.

Smugglers often hide drugs in ordinary goods and carry-on luggage across border gates bordering Laos, Cambodia and China.

In particular, the drug crime has tended to rise on the air route, mainly through international airports: Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang with supplies from European and American countries.

Notably, there was a shift in drug transportation from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport, then transported by road and rail to the South.

Facing the above situation, the General Department of Customs has urgently researched and developed professional warning documents on methods and tricks of hiding psychotropic substances and drug transportation on the sea route.

Also, the Customs has worked with the Technical Department under the Ministry of Public Security to fight against smuggling and trade fraud in the illegal cross-border transportation of goods in the new situation; coordinated with the Drug-related Crime Investigation Police Department (C04), the Ministry of Public Security to organize a conference to assess the situation and propose solutions to prevent and fight drug crimes on the air route.

From December 16, 2022 to June 15, 2023, the Customs presided over and coordinated with other authorities such as the Police and Border Guards to seize 140 cases and 148 criminals, in which the customs presides over 70 cases and seize more than 1 ton (1,142.8 kg) and 13,666 drugs of all kinds.

Earning nearly VND315 billion from anti-smuggling work

The General Department of Customs said that the smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal cross-border transportation of goods in the first six months of 2023, were still complicated with sophisticated methods and tricks. The acts of violation focused on: mis-declaration false customs declaration; concealing the origin and route of the shipment in order to smuggle or illegally transport banned goods, drugs, wild animals, and currency across the border; and importing goods that do not meet the conditions of standards and regulations.

Motivated by the attention and direction of the Government, the National Steering Committee 389, the Steering Committee 138, the Ministry of Finance and the coordination of relevant authorities such as the Public Security, Border Guard, Coast Guard, Market Surveillance, together with the determination and proactive control of the situation, the General Department of Customs has drastically implemented the Peak Plan to fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year.

At the same time, the Customs has advised the Steering Committee 389 of the Ministry of Finance to develop a report on the results of anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting work in 2022 and mission orientation in 2023 and report on the results of the peak plan to fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2023;

Along with that, the General Department of Customs issued many documents directing and warning to local customs departments, guiding the implementation of customs control: warning of risks for acts of abusing policies and procedures to refuse to receive goods and re-export for smuggling and trade fraud; strengthen the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and loss of tax revenue in the near future; strengthen the fight against smuggling and illegal transportation of goods, currency and drugs by air.

As a result, in the first 6 months (from December 16, 2022 to June 15, 2023), the whole Customs sector handled 8,068 cases of customs law violations, up 7.1% over the same period in 2022. The total value of infringing goods was estimated at VND 2,674.8 billion, down 29.1% over the same period in 2022.

Customs authorities have prosecuted 18 cases and transferred to other agencies 59 cases, up 7.3% over the same period in 2022; contributed to the state budget VND314.8 billion, up 50.6% year-on-year.