Illegal exports of medical masks to Cambodia heating up

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Hundreds of medical mask boxes seized by VinhVuong border gate customs branch on March 2rd, 2020

Illegal export of masks takes place continuously

Cases of medical masks in large volume to Cambodia, especially after Government’s Resolution No. 20/NQ-CP dated February 28, 2020 on export licensing for medical masks amid Covid-19 epidemic control and prevention efforts.

On March 3, VinhXuong border gate customs branch (under An Giang Customs Department) discovered dozens of bags of goods near the border and monitored by watchmen in a patrol at VinhXuong border crossings and decided to inspect.

When detecting the customs force, the watchmen ran and left the goods. Suspecting the goods to besmuggled, VinhXuong border gate Customs Branch coordinated with Border Guard force at Song Tien international border gate to inspect and then seize 320 boxes containing 16,000 medical masks.

This wasthe second seizure of medical masks by VinhXuong border gate Customs Branch in recent times. Earlier, on February 22, the branch also arrested Thai ThanhPhong born in 1987 for illegally transporting 500 boxes of medical mask (25,000 pieces) and 70kgs of medicine of all kinds to Cambodia for consumption.

At the same day, while carrying out procedures for baggage of border citizens on exit to Cambodia, Tinh Bien border gate Customs Branch seized 100 boxes of medical masks (5,000 units). The branch recorded the violation and seized the goods for handling.

Southwest borders are getting hot for items related to anti-Covid-19 epidemic

Millions of medical masks gathered

Not only An Giang border, at Ha Tien and TayNinh borders, many illegal export cases of medical masks have been seized, showing that since the regulation on submitting permits for mask exports was issued, mask smuggling to Cambodia is heating up. On March 3rd, while carrying out exit procedures for border citizens, Ha Tien border gate Customs Branch discovered a Cambodian citizen hiding 192 boxes of medical masks without a customs declaration. At theTayNinh border, on the first three days of March, 2020, Customs agency seized three smuggling cases of medical masks.

According to authorities, the most noticeable problem is after the Government’s Resolution No. 20/NQ-CP dated February 28 on applying export licensing for medical masks amid Covid-19 epidemic control and prevention, the collection and gathering of masks for illegal export has been complicated. On the afternoon of March 3, scouts of the reconnaissance team 3, Investigating Police Division on Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes (PC03) under HCM City Public Security in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City MarketSurveillance Department inspected a warehouse at 4 Luong The Vinh, Tan ThoiHoa ward, Tan Phu district, Ho Chi Minh city.

Through inspecting 400 cartons, the forces discovered 1million medical masks of all kinds. There were no invoices orvouchers to the prove origin of the goods.

Ho Chi Minh City Public Security identified that these goods were likely to be exported to China. After gathering masks, smugglers will take the goods to Cambodia and then China for consumption.

Facing the above situation, southwest border customs agencies have been forces and measures to patrol and control areas under their management to detect and prevent mask smuggling cases