Illegal transport of currency and gold tends to increase near Lunar New Year

	Lang Son: Evaluating the realities to handle acts of smuggling and trade fraud
	Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

Gold was seized by Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch (Hanoi Customs Department) in coordination with the Police force on October 18, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Linh.

Value of goods increased by 140.3%

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in November, the smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transport of goods across the border continued to be complicated, decreasing in the number of cases (down 19.01%) but increasing in the value of goods (up 140.3%) compared to the same period in 2023; and increasing administrative violations.

Notably, the number of violations on the sea route rose, accounting for 55.1% of the total number of cases detected, arrested and handled by the whole Customs sector in November, and increasing by 705.26% year-on-year.

In contrast, the number of violations on the land route dropped 70.02%; on the air, express and postal routes also fell 37.7% year-on-year.

Criminal cases dropped, and the number of cases transferred for prosecution decreased by 53 cases, down 76.8% compared to the same period in 2023.

However, in areas outside the border gates in industrial parks, there are the situation of using tax-exempt goods the wrong purpose without declaring the change of purpose to the Customs authority to evade taxes.

The illegal trading and transportation of firecrackers and refined sugar continue to take place in the Central provinces and the Vietnam - Laos border.

In the areas bordering Vietnam - China and Vietnam - Cambodia, trafficking and transportation of goods without invoices or documents proving their origin still take place complicatedly, especially for frozen foods, consumer goods, cigarettes and tobacco leaves.

The illegal transportation of goods, currency and gold across the border has shown signs of increasing in the Southwestern border (border gates in An Giang province).

Collecting more than VND900 billion in revenue

Responding to the situation, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (the GDVC) has issued a document directing the whole Customs sector to strengthen the fight against smuggling and trade fraud.

The GDVC submit to a plan for the peak period against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods before, during, and after the Lunar New Year in 2025 to the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Finance.

The GDVC instructs and warn the whole sector on the prevention of African swine fever under Directive No. 41/CT-TTg dated November 6, 2024 of the Government.

The GDVC reviews the results of implementing joint campaigns, such as: Operation Mekong Dragon VI; Twin Guardian Campaign II on cooperation in the fight against drugs between Vietnam Customs and Korean Customs, etc.

In the month, the Customs sector has detected and handled customs offences, with the value of infringing goods worth VND2,87 billion.

The Customs transferred 16 cases to other agencies for prosecution, and collected and remitted VND155.9 billion to the State budget.

Accumulated to the end of November, the Customs sector discovered, arrested and handled 16,390 cases of violations of the Customs offences, the value of violated goods was estimated at VND29,273 billion.

The Customs initiated 24 cases, transferred 157 cases to other agencies for prosecution; and collected and remitted VND 901.58 billion to the State budget.