Ha Tinh: management authorities work together to fight against smuggling and trade fraud

Direct coordination

According to the report of Steering Committee 389 of Ha Tinh province, in 2023, the authorities in Ha Tinh province have closely followed the directions of the Central and local authorities to promptly build and implement many programs and plans against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in accordance with the actual situation.

The authorities have increased human resources and vehicles, focused on patrolling and controlling areas and locations at risk of smuggling. Thereby, promptly detecting and effectively solving violations on the border and in the inland.

Also according to the Steering Committee 389 of Ha Tinh province, the situation of drug crimes has become increasingly complicated with many sophisticated and cunning methods to deceive the competent authorities to to illegally transport and trade narcotics into Vietnam.

Accordingly, in Ha Tinh area, drug crimes often take advantage of rugged mountain roads, complex and extensive terrain to bring drugs across the border such as hiding drug in vehicles, goods, checked baggage...

The suspect Nguyen Thanh Luan, born in 1986, arrested by Ha Tinh Customs and Police on May 2, 2023 while driving a motorbike carrying 32,000 ecstasy pills and 800 amphetamin pills. Photo: Dinh Thong

Facing that situation, leaders of the Customs, Police, Border Guard, and Coast Guard forces have drastically directed coordination between forces in the fight against drug crimes; arresting many crimes and seizing infringing goods, contributing to maintaining political security in the area.

The coordination between authorities complies with assigned functions, tasks and powers; ensures solidarity, synergy, and mutual support; do not obstruct circulation and legal activities across borders, border gates, and at sea in order to promote the combined strength of authorities to help the anti-drug achieve the highest results.

The authorities conducted direct coordination (such as inter-sectoral control patrols; building and implementing professional plans, establishing joint projects) or indirect coordination (such as organizing periodic briefings, conferences, seminars, workshops; training courses on professional skills in preventing and combating drug-related crimes...).

Statistics show that in 2023, the authorities in Ha Tinh area handled 2,452 violations with a value of infringing goods of VND3.8 billion. Of these, 2,342 cases were sanctioned with a total value of administrative fines, additional fines, tax arrears, and confiscated sales proceeds of VND46.3 billion; 140 cases with 205 suspects were criminally prosecuted.

Only, Ha Tinh Customs Department has presided over and coordinated with other authorities in the area to handle 186 cases. Of these, there were 157 administrative violation cases; remitting more than VND1.42 billion to the state budget; 18 cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border; and 12 cases of drug trafficking.

The confiscated evidence includes 2 packages containing component parts to assemble gun-shaped objects weighing 118 kg; 137 boxes and 13.5 kg of explosive fireworks; 1 coconut firecracker; 25.07 kg of firecrackers; 60 cases of Redbull; 12 Hatari brand electric fans; 11 Sharp electric fans; 20 Jiplai electric fans and 58 Amphetamine pills; 27.4899 kg of methamphetamine; 2.1007 kg of heroin (Diacetylmorphine); 550.0998 kg of ketamine.

Actively promoting achieved results

With the above results, it can be seen that the forces in the Steering Committee 389 of Ha Tinh province have effectively implemented plans and projects of the National Steering Committee 389 on strengthening the combat against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods on borders, seas and inland areas...

Operations of Ha Tinh Customs officers at Cau Treo border gate. Photo: H.Nu

However, according to the assessment of the Ha Tinh Border Guard, the activities of drug criminals are increasingly sophisticated, reckless, carefully organized, with closed rings, separate stage from purchasing selling, hiding, transporting to consumption, causing difficulties for authorities.

Therefore, the Police and Border Guards all believe that the National Steering Committee 389 needs to strengthen strict management of the conditions for establishing e-commerce websites and applications to enhance the responsibility of e-commerce platform owners; advise on the management of temporarily imported and re-exported vehicles; handle derelict goods; have a high reward regime for anti-smuggling activities because this is a specific and dangerous task; further strengthen coordination and promote communication to raise people's awareness... thereby bringing maximum efficiency to this work.

In particular, as the standing agency of Steering Committee 389 of Ha Tinh province, Mr. Bui Thanh San, Director of Ha Tinh Customs Department, said that Ha Tinh Customs and other authorities will continue to further coordinate together in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, especially drug crimes. This solution also creates synergy, high solidarity, ensures security, order, safety and fighting crime in the area; contributing to fulfilling the political tasks of each authority and creating a peaceful life for the people.