Facilitating trade and bolstering customs enforcement at Vinh Xuong border crossing

Customs officials of Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch inspect imported sand barges at the end of September 2024. Photo: T.H

Clearing nearly 14,000 m3 of sand

At Vinh Xuong International Border Gate's riverine area in late September 2024, numerous sand barges from Cambodia were lined up for import procedures.

Tran Tan Lap, Deputy Manager of Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch, reported that while the number of enterprises carrying out import-export procedures at the border gate was modest, at around 70, they were involved in various activities including commercial imports, production imports, commercial exports, temporary imports, re-exports, and border trade.

"The volume of imported sand has decreased significantly in recent months. In the first nine months of 2024, the import volume of sand decreased by approximately 40% compared to the same period in 2023," Deputy Manager Tran Tan Lap shared.

According to the Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch, the unit's unique characteristic is managing state customs administration for both riverine and land border gates. Among the over 6,700 import-export declarations processed by the department in the first nine months of 2024, declarations for border residents' goods processed through the land border accounted for 3,200 declarations.

Mr. Lap stated that the unit's state revenue primarily came from goods such as molasses, natural river sand, scrap metal, and iron ore.

From the beginning of the year to the end of September 2024, Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch collected VND343.134 billion in state revenue, equaling 147.39% of the assigned target (VND 232.8 billion), increasing by 54.25% compared to the same period last year.

Specifically for imported river sand from Cambodia to Vietnam, Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch has paid special attention to guiding enterprises on procedures when implementing new regulations under Circular No. 04/2023/TT-BXD dated June 30, 2023 of the Ministry of Construction, effective from January 1, 2024. In the first nine months, the unit has processed nearly 6,000 declarations, with a total import volume of nearly 14,000 m³, collecting over VND 210 billion in state revenue.

To ensure the clearance of large volumes of goods, Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch has strictly implemented the inspection and supervision of import-export goods and means of transport on entry and exit at both land and river border gates following customs procedures, creating all favorable conditions for the import-export of goods, and the entry and exit of people and means of transport through the border gate.

Cao Tien Thanh, General Director of Cam Viet Sand Joint Stock Company, said that with a fleet of over 40 barges, the company currently imports about 400,000 - 500,000 m³ of sand per month through the Tien River border gate and completes procedures at Vinh Xuong Border Gate Customs (An Giang) and Thuong Phuoc Border Gate Customs (Dong Thap).

Currently, the import procedures for sand are quite convenient, enterprises register for state quality inspection according to Circular No. 04/2023/TT-BXD, and customs authorities facilitate very quick clearance for enterprises.

Pull down the smuggling

In addition to facilitating trade, attracting import-export goods, and generating revenue for the state budget, Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch pays special attention to combating smuggling and the illegal transportation of goods across the border.

Deputy Manager Tran Tan Lap stated that the unit's management area includes Vinh Xuong commune. Over the past period, Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch has persistently carried out dissemination and mobilization work among the masses, combined with professional customs control measures, thus reducing the situation of some residents illegally transporting goods across the border via footpaths.

According to the customs authorities' assessment, in general, enterprises importing and exporting goods and means of transport through Vinh Xuong border gate comply well with regulations, so no new fraudulent methods or tricks have arisen.

However, there are still cases where some enterprises, when participating in import-export and entry-exit activities through Vinh Xuong border gate (riverine), violate procedures, deadlines for declarations.

A typical case occurred in March 2024 when the unit, in coordination with Dong Thap Maritime Administration and Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Border Post, handled administrative violations against a water transport business for not completing customs procedures for vehicles when crossing the border and not having a waterway transport permit across the border issued by a competent authority.

Subsequently, in April 2024, Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch, in coordination with Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Border Post and the Southern Customs Marine Enforcement Fleet (Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department - General Department of Vietnam Customs), discovered an enterprise importing natural river sand that illegally transported over 53 m³ of sand across the border without documents or papers proving the legal origin of the goods.

Notably, through monitoring and review, the Department discovered that six enterprises temporarily importing and re-exporting natural gold sand had overdue tax debts but had been dissolved and no longer operated at the registered business address since before 2007, with a total debt of over VND 300 million.

Among them, Thien Quy Joint Stock Company owed over VND 117 million; Quang Thuy Construction Trading and Service Company Limited owed nearly VND 100 million...

Currently, during the peak of the flood season and the end of the year, the volume of import-export goods is expected to increase. Meanwhile, smugglers may take advantage of this to illegally transport goods across the border.

Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch is implementing many solutions to ensure both trade facilitation and strict management.

In the first nine months of 2024, Vinh Xuong International Border Gate Customs Branch discovered and seized 5 violations, with the value of the violated goods exceeding VND 212 million.