Customs strengthens anti-fraud and illicit transshipment work

	Customs implements peak plan on fighting against smuggling at the end of the year
	Against fraud of origin: Control the production capacity of businesses
	Anti-fraud from collecting information on risk management

The Meeting. Photo: T. Binh

Budget revenue reaches VND 300,000 billion

On the afternoon of November 12, the General Director of Customs Nguyen Van Can chaired the briefing to evaluate the performance in October and deploytasks in November of the General Department of Customs.

According to the report, in October, Vietnam's total import-export value reached US$46.61 billion, up 3.3 percent compared to September (in which exports were US$24.23 billion, up 3.7 percent and imports were US$22.37 billion, up 2.9 percent), bringing Vietnam’s total imports and exportsin the first ten months to US$428.63 billion, up 8 percent over the same period last year. Ofwhich, total export value reached US$218.82 billion, up 8.3 percent, while imports reachedUS$209.81 billion, up 7.7 percent.

Vietnam's trade balance in goods in October 2019 was a surplus of US$1.86 billion. So, in the ten months, the trade surplus was US$9.01 billion, a year-on-year increase of 23 percent. This is also the highest trade surplus of Vietnam so far.

Regarding the state budget revenue, the Director of the Import-Export Tax Department (General Department of Customs), LuuManhTuong, said: By November 10, the total customs revenue was VND 300,000 billion.

Regarding the fight against smuggling and illegal cross-border transportation of goods, in October, the Customs Department took the lead in coordinating, detectingand handling a total of 1,396 cases of violations with a value of infringement goods ofVND 169.48 billion. State budget revenue reached VND 13.24 billion. In particular, the Customs authorities have prosecuted eight criminal cases, and transferred to other agencies to prosecute six cases.

Updated from the beginning of the year to the end of October, the whole sector took the lead, coordinated, discoveredand handled a total of 14,675 violations in the customs field, estimated value of infringing goods was 2,350,399 billion dong. State budget revenue reached 255,174 billion VND. Customs authorities issued 36 decisions to prosecute and transfer other agencies to petition to prosecute 86 cases.

In particular, recently, a series of big drug cases have been successfully handledby the Customs forces.

On October 2, the police of Ky Son district (Nghe An) coordinated with Nghe An Customs Department and Nam Can international border guard (Nghe An) to arrest asuspectwho committed illegal transportation of drugs, with 3,956 grams of methamphetamine.

On October 4, the Customs Branch of Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs (Ha Tinh Customs Department) coordinated with Ha Tinh Border Guard to patrol and detect sevensuspectswith illegal transportation and hoarding of drug substances with 45kg of methamphetamine and 30 heroin packs and 6,000 synthetic pills. The forces also discovered twoguns and 50 bullets.

On October 11, the Drug Enforcement Team (Quang Ninh Customs Department) presided over and successfully handleda special case QN 419, arresting one suspectwho committed drug trafficking at the Bach Dang bridge toll plaza, Lien Vi ward, Quang Yen town (Quang Ninh), and seized five kilosof drugs, one pistol and six bullets.

Mobile phone power bank made in China, declared as Chinese origin but the product shows the origin of Vietnam. The case was discovered and arrested by Hai Phong Customs in July 2019. Photo: T. Binh.

Anti-origin fraud: Focus on businesses and goods with high-risk

Speaking at the meeting, the General Director requestedthe whole sectorto continue efforts to accomplish the tasks of 2019.

In particular, the Customs sector further fights against frauds of origin and illegal transportation of goods. The Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department and Post-Clearance Audit Department continue to carry out the issued projects and plans related to anti-origin fraud.

At the same time, applying risk management to assess and select to enterprises and items subject to inspection.

For the budget revenue task, following the actual development, striving to achieve the highest results. In addition to performing the revenue task, measures to combat revenue loss should be a focus.

Regarding anti-smuggling, the Department of Anti-smuggling and Investigation and Customs Control forces should continue to implement the plan, especially on the peak occasion before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2020.