Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

	Combating smuggling and illegal transportation of fireworks across Cau Treo International Border Gate
	Cau Treo Customs seizes 77 kg of fireworks
	Quang Nam Customs seizes 48 kg of fireworks

Cau Treo Customs - Border Guard force inspects 212 kg of firecrackers seized on November 14, 2024. Photo: Thanh Giang

Crime spreads across the country

According to the Border Guard Command, criminals used to commit crimes in areas and border provinces adjacent to China, the criminals have begun to move their locations to border provinces adjacent to Laos and Cambodia.

Facing situation, the authorities have focused on the rules, methods, and tricks of many criminals to deploy combat plans.

Typically, on November 14, at km 83, National Highway 8A in Ha Trai village, Son Kim 1 commune, Huong Son district, the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch (Ha Tinh Customs Department) coordinated with Ha Tinh Provincial Border Guard and Police to inspect the vehicle and arrest Le Van Hung, born in 2002, residing in Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province, for hiding 212 kg of fireworks, foreign brands, in a homemade compartment above the vehicle ceiling.

Previously, on November 11, also in Ha Tinh, Can Loc District Police discovered and arrested Le Khac Chien, born in 1996, residing in Thach Ha District, Ha Tinh Province, for illegally transporting 72 boxes of fireworks and more than 3,000 firecrackers.

On November 6, Quynh Luu District Police (Nghe An) successfully cracked down on a special case, arresting two suspects Dong Manh Hoa, born in 1972, and Nguyen Xuan Menh, born in 1980, both from Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province, for illegally trading in cross-border firecrackers, seizing 280 kg of various types of firecrackers.

It is worth noting that the investigation showed that the subjects had formed a network to trade and transport firecrackers from abroad through border gates in Binh Phuoc Province, then brought them to other areas for consumption over a long period of time.

On November 13, Trang Bom District Police (Dong Nai) also inspected the house of Pham Quoc Viet, 32 years old, residing in Trung Hoa Commune, Trang Bom Viet District and discovered that he was hiding more than 270 boxes of fireworks (464 kg) of unknown origin.

In early October 2024, at Km59+120m, National Highway 18C, in Phat Chi Hamlet, Dong Van Commune, Binh Lieu District, Quang Ninh Province, Hoanh Mo Border Guard Station coordinated with the Drug and Crime Prevention Task Force, Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard to arrest Chiu Chan Quay, born in 1972, residing in Sieng Long Hamlet, Quang Lam Commune, Dam Ha District, Quang Ninh Province, while using a truck with license plate 98A-021.38, carrying 19 bags of pineapples, containing 228 boxes of fireworks, with a total weight of 342 kg.

The Border Guard Command believes that the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025 is approaching, and many greedy criminals taking advantage of people's need to buy and use fireworks, have illegally transported fireworks across the border, even taking advantage of forms to conduct illicit trade.

Notably, the number of seizures as well as the amount of seized evidence have reflected the reality of crimes of illegal trading and transportation of fireworks spreading across the country.

Sophisticated tricks

The Border Guard Command assesses that as e-commerce develops, illegal fireworks traders have used many sophisticated tricks and frequently changed their transportation methods. Accordingly, the subjects have taken advantage of the priority of customs clearance of agricultural products to bring fireworks through the border gate.

In addition, illegal trading of fireworks also takes place on social networking sites such as Facebook, Zalo, and online market groups. After receiving orders, the criminals will purchase the goods from China, Laos, Cambodia, transport them across the border of the provinces: Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Tay Ninh and An Giang to deliver to buyers through express delivery units or send buses, passenger vans, making it difficult for authorities in detection.

On the other hand, if in previous years, it was only near Tet that the traders became active, in recent years, due to the strong crackdown by authorities such as Border Guards, Police, and Customs during Tet, the criminal have shifted to transporting and storing fireworks from the beginning or middle of the year to serve the time near Tet.

In addition, since China has tightly controlled the border, all trails and openings have been blocked by fences to prevent and combat smuggling of goods and diseases, the traders of fireworks from China to Vietnam have changed their transportation methods.

Even when it is not possible to transport by the old method, the traders have taken advantage of the import-export policy of agricultural products between Vietnam and China to transport fireworks.

According to the assessment of the authorities at some border gates adjacent to China, due to the priority policy of import-export of agricultural products between Vietnam and China with quick customs clearance, many traders have hidden firecracker boxes under the bottom of fruit crates to avoid detection.

The representative of the Border Guard Command said that the reason for the increase in illegal trade and transportation of fireworks is because the price of Chinese fireworks is 50% lower than the price of domestic fireworks.

Along with that, allowing people to use fireworks during Tet makes traders take advantage of this opportunity to smuggle fireworks to gain illegal profits; businesses take advantage of the Ministry of National Defense's permit to sell fireworks to consume smuggled fireworks, making it difficult for authorities to inspect domestic fireworks businesses.

In the face of the above situation, to effectively prevent the illegal transportation of fireworks from the border into the interior, the Border Guard, Customs, and Police are actively coordinating together to grasp the situation from afar and patrol and control to promptly prevent smuggling of goods in general and fireworks and explosives in particular.

Grasping the situation and trends of criminal activities and violations of fireworks in the last months of the year, the Ministry of Public Security, the General Department of Customs, and the Border Guard Command have directed units in the industry to strictly manage the situation in the area.

In particular, the Border Guard and Customs at border gates have synchronously implemented professional measures to combat, strengthen patrols and controls on border routes; proactively coordinate and exchange information between competent agencies on criminals, methods, and tricks of carrying out acts of hiding, trading, and illegally transporting fireworks.