Customs seizes over 15,000 packs of cigarettes hidden in containers of exported vegetables and fruits

	Dong Thap Customs seize contraband sugar, cigarettes
	Anti-smuggling in the border area of Dong Thap province
	Prevent border residents from helping smugglers

Dozens of smuggled cigarette boxes are hidden in the shipment of vegetables and fruits.

The shipment had a registered customs declaration by BRADO Food Development Company Limited (in Binh Thuan Province). The company declared the goods as fresh vegetables and fruits exported from Hong Kong (China).

Based on the Customs database system and information collection, the Team 3 detected suspicious signs in the shipment. The Team coordinated with the 1St Zone Sai Gon Seaport Customs Branch to conduct a physical inspection and discovered over 1,500 packages of Thang Long and Marlboro cigarettes without customs declarations.

These cigarettes were hidden inside in 54 boxes of vegetables and fruits at the end of the container to outsmart detection and inspection via scanner by the competent forces.

Cigarettes were hidden inside boxes.

However, Team 3 has strengthened the management and control of the area; information collection via the intelligent networks combined with the analysis and evaluation of information on the smart customs system and detected the smuggling case.

The Head of the Team 3 Pham Van Phan said the Covid-19 pandemic has seriously affected import and export operations. The company abused the goods policies and goods classification to smuggle goods. The competent agencies have monitored and tackled this case.

Currently, Team 3 is investigating the case.