Exposing methods of hiding drugs and contraband goods through Cha Lo international border gate

	Ha Tinh Customs collaborates to apprehend suspect transporting 4kg of methamphetamine
	Quang Tri Customs collaborates to arrest suspect transporting 18,000 synthetic drug pills
	Ha Tinh Customs arrests two suspects transporting 52 kg of drugs

Seized 556.6 kg of explosive fireworks. Photo provided by Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch.

Using many support tools to detect violations

According to Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch, Cha Lo International Border Gate has been assessed as an important "gateway" for trade activities. The volume of imported and exported goods, transit goods, passengers, and vehicles entering and exiting the country through this border gate is higher year after year.

From the beginning of 2024, the number of import, export and transit declarations rose by 7%, the volume of goods increased by 26%, the value of goods increased by 7%, the number of vehicles increased by 27%, and the number of people entering and exiting the country increased by 16%). Import and export activities are diverse in terms of types and categories of goods.

In addition to advantages, the authorities here often face risks when smuggling, commercial fraud, and illegal transportation of goods and drugs across the border have been increasingly sophisticated and complicated.

Speaking to reporters of Customs Magazine, Head of the Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Binh Customs Department) Phan Nhat Truong said that smugglers mainly take advantage of personal belongings of passengers or goods consigned on passenger vans across the border (Thailand-Laos-Vietnam) to illegally transport drugs.

In addition, some also take advantage of vehicles transporting imported and transit goods through the border gate to hide banned goods in many locations inside the cabin, under the hood or hide them inside containers of goods to bring prohibited goods to Vietnam for consumption.

Facing the above situation, Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch has closely coordinated with the Border Guard and Police to proactively exchange information, use professional measures to monitor, as well as coordinate with other forces to arrest offenders; collect information, target organizations, individuals, and vehicles with high risks of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods and drugs across the border.

At the same time, conducting patrols, promptly preventing violations; effectively managing and using secret bases to collect and grasp information on the situation of areas, vehicles, and individuals suspected of being involved in smuggling and illegal transportation of goods and drugs across the border.

Mr. Phan Nhat Truong said, the branch has directed to strengthen inspection, control, and closely monitored the customs clearance process for vehicles entering and leaving the border, import and export goods, and transit through the border gate;

Effectively used sniffing dogs, equipment and support tools (such as surveillance cameras, baggage scanners, narrow-gap scanners, desktop and handheld drug detectors, and other support tools) as well as applied measures to handle smuggling and drug.

Detecting many cases of prohibited goods

Through the fight, the Customs force has coordinated with other forces to "expose" many tricks of the smugglers such as hiding drugs inside personal shoes, cake boxes, paintings, storage compartments, ashtrays, in the lid and under the gear lever...; mixing fireworks inside cargo containers, the cabin, storage compartments, under the hood of the vehicle.

From January 1, 2024 to present, the Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch has presided over and coordinated with others to handle 13 cases of law violations with criminal elements (including 9 drug cases, 4 fireworks cases); seized 5.98 kg of katemine drugs, 18.51 kg of marijuana drugs, 66 pink synthetic drugs and 748.1 kg of fireworks.

Notably, 2 of 13 cases of law violations with criminal elements mentioned above were special projects.

They are: project CL124 chaired by the Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch to arrest two drug traffickers across the border and seize 10 kg of marijuana drugs.

Project QB1024 coordinated by the Cha Lo Border Gate Customs Branch with the Border Guard force of Quang Binh province to arrest a suspect illegally transporting 556.6 kg of fireworks.

These are large cases of contraband goods (explosive fireworks) and marijuana drugs across the Cha Lo border gate.

.