Establishing a "shell corporation" to transport drugs across the border

Competent authorities in Quang Tri coordinated to arrest a transnational drug trafficking network, seizing 100 kg of drugs (March 30, 2024).

Customs participated in busting 114 cases

The General Department of Vietnam Customs assesses that the activities of criminals illegally trading and transporting drugs and precursors across the border are still extremely complicated on air routes and sea routes.

Notably, gangs and transnational drug-related crime lines take advantage of incentive policies to attract investment and trade activities to find ways to establish businesses in Vietnam aiming to transport vehicles and equipment, raw materials, warehouse rental... to serve the production and illegal transportation of drugs from abroad into Vietnam and continue to be transported to third countries for consumption.

This is also an assessment recently made by the leader of the Drug-related Crime Investigation Police Department (C04, Ministry of Public Security).

When mentioning the situation of drugs drifting at sea, Major General Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Deputy Director of C04, emphasized that there was a phenomenon of foreign drug-related criminals taking advantage of establishing businesses in Vietnam to gather, mixing drugs with normal import and export goods (plastic beads, animal feed, scrap...) and bringing them to major seaports for transport to other countries.

In addition, the Customs authorities also warned that the import of precursor chemicals has posed the potential risk of being exploited, used to prepare and illegally produce drugs.

Faced with the above situation, the Customs force has proactively and drastically deployed professional measures to promptly detect and eliminate violations.

In April 2024, the Customs sector chaired and coordinated with other forces (Police, Border Guard, Coast Guard) to detect and seize 22 cases and 42 subjects (including 7 cases seized by Customs agency). Evidence collected included: 160 grams of opium; 54 kg of marijuana; 9.12 kg of heroin; 102 kg of ketamine; 20.14 kg of synthetic drugs and 180kg of other drugs.

Overall, from the beginning of the year to the end of April, Customs sector chaired and coordinated with other forces (Police, Border Guard, Coast Guard) to detect and arrest 114 cases, 129 subjects (Customs agency chaired 44 cases). Evidence collected included: 160 grams of opium; 71.5 kg of marijuana; 30.5 kg of heroin; 145.2 kg and 900 ketamine tablets; 208.7kg and 3 synthetic drugs; 180 kg and 220 pills of other drugs and other drugs.

Timely seize smuggling cases

Regarding anti-smuggling work, in April 2024, the situation of smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods continued to have complicated developments, many violations were seized by the Customs force and processing.

Illegal trading and transportation of firecrackers and poultry products still take place in Quang Ninh and Ha Tinh provinces. In April, there were activities of buying, selling and transporting coal and petroleum of unknown origin in the Northeast region...

Faced with the above situation, as an advisory and assisting agency for the Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee 389 and the Steering Committee 389 of the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has concretized and implemented key plans and work programs in each area, to warn and guide localities on anti-smuggling control in customs control areas.

Highlights include promulgating the Plan to control and prevent smuggling of counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights in 2024; warning on methods and tricks in drug trafficking and transportation via sea routes; strengthening control against smuggling and illegal transportation of gold and foreign currency across border; warning on tricks to transport drugs via express delivery service...

Completing and supplementing the report on the results of implementing the Mekong Dragon Campaign Phase 5, and some proposals for implementing the Mekong Dragon Campaign Phase 6 Action Plan.

Coordinate to develop the National Target Program on preventing, combating and improving the effectiveness of drug addiction treatment at the request of the Ministry of Public Security and the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control.

Performing duties as a member of the National Anti-Money Laundering Steering Committee's Assisting Team, APG Multilateral Post-Assessment Group (Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering), and member of 3 national risk assessment groups on anti-money laundering.