Hanoi Customs detects many sophisticated tricks of hiding drugs

	Hanoi and HCM City Customs shared experiences in anti-drugs
	Seizing the largest number of drugs ever transported via air

Four suspects and evidence in the special case HP524.

Tackling largest drug transportation case by air

Ha Noi Customs Department said that along with economic development, world trade, globalization trends, flow of import and export goods and cargo transported via air or express delivery services have surged in recent years. Along with the development, the smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of drugs and cargo via air and express delivery services with sophisticated and unpredictable tricks.

In the management area of Hanoi Customs Department from 2021 until now, the trafficking and illegal transportation of drugs via air has taken place complicatedly with sophisticated and unpredictable tricks. Criminals have taken advantage of facilitation to import and export activities for drug trafficking.

In 2024, implementing drug prevention and the action month for drug prevention and control, Hanoi Customs Department has developed and issued plans and measures to prevent and control drugs and implement the action month for drug prevention. The department has closely cooperated with specialized forces on drug prevention to combat and bust drug transportation rings via air.

Among the five action plans implemented by Hanoi Customs Department in the first half of the year, Action Plan HP524 is a notable plan. The leader of the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team (Hanoi Customs Department) said that the department has received information about a large volume of drugs transported from Germany to Vietnam.

In order to promptly prevent, arrest, and tackle drug criminal gangs and seize evidence, the leader of the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team proposed the leader of Hanoi Customs Department to make Action Plan HP524 led by the department and cooperate with PC 04 (Hanoi Customs Department) and Hanoi North Customs Branch to combat drugs illegally transported from Germany to Vietnam.

The Team’s leader said that suspects have hidden in drink cans (apple juice cans). They cut apple juice cans in half and hide drugs inside these cans, then sealed around the cans and mixed them with other cans. Through the screening process, the Customs discovered suspicious signs in 46 apple juice packages and arrested 4 suspects and seized 179 kg of MDMA (synthetic drug).

“Action Plan HP524 is an outstanding plan, with the largest quantity of drugs ever seized by air. The investigation team has arrested 4 suspects and large volume of drugs” the leader said.

In June, Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch, the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team has jointly inspected a consignment that is suspected of containing drugs. During the inspection, the Customs detected 353 metal boxes containing plastic inside five packages with a total weight of 121 kg of suspected drugs.

In the first half of the year, Ha Noi Customs Department busted 42 cases and arrested 540 kg of drugs.

Collaborate to combat drugs

The Anti-Drug Enforcement Team said that in the previous time, criminals often hid drugs in candy packages, supplemental foods, machinery and equipment components... but recently, the suspects have changed their tricks to hide drugs in metal boxes, plastic boxes, drink cans, wooden statues, plasterboard...

According to the Team, to achieve the above outstanding results, first of all, it is thanks to the timely direction of leaders at all levels, the close coordination between the Team with Customs Branches under Hanoi Customs Department, especially Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch, and other relevant agencies. The Team has strengthened the collection and analysis of information, regularly warned Customs branches about routes, items, and methods to raise vigilance and promptly detect signs of violation…

Notably, Hanoi Customs Department always coordinates closely and effectively with the specialized forces on drug prevention and control and relevant units in combating drugs, ensuring security and effectiveness in this work.