Illegal transportation of goods across Hiep Phuoc port prosecuted

	Illegal transportation of fireworks in the Central border
	Coordinating in information exchange to tackle violations
	Quang Ninh Customs seizes infringing goods worth VND2.6 billion

Banned imports hidden in the containers. Photo: T.T

The Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department under the General Department of Customs has issued Decision No. 04/DTCBL-QD dated April 18, 2023 to prosecute a crime of "Illegal transportation of goods through border” specified in article 189 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended and supplemented in 2017 related to import activities of B.S.V.N Import-Export Trading Co., Ltd at Hiep Phuoc port, Ho Chi Minh City.

The case was detected by the Annti-Smuggling and Intellectual Property Rights Protection Team (Team 4), the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department in collaboration with Hiep Phuoc Port Customs Branch, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department.

Accordingly, at the end of 2020, implementing the Decision on inspecting goods according to Decision No. 04/QD-D4 dated September 7, 2020 of the Team 4 Leader, the Working Group of Team 4 assumed the prime responsibility and coordinated with Hiep Phuoc port border gate Customs Branch to search a shipment in container No. WHLU5661956/Seal WHLI416072 belonging to the import declaration No. 10347882850/A11 dated August 17, 2020 named by B.S.V.N importer.

A container of infringing goods

According to the company’s declaration, the imported goods are spare parts for motorbikes, cars, and laundry detergents of all kinds. Through searching, investigating and verifying the goods in container No. WHLU5661956, the goods are used machinery and household appliances subject to the List of goods banned from import, and food which have not been announced and inspected in accordance with regulations.

According to the price appraisal certificate of the specialized unit, the goods in the container WHLU5661956 at the time of violation in August 2020 were valued at nearly VND 8.7 billion.

Of which, there are 295 items of imported goods, including confectionery, food powder, coffee, spirits, powdered milk, cosmetics, supplementary foods, food flavorings, etc., which are subject to import permits issued by a specialized agency, must have a food hygiene and safety announcement and a certificate of food hygiene and safety inspection.

Most infringing goods are food

However, from the time of the search to the time the Customs authority issued a decision to initiate criminal proceedings, B.S.V.N Company still failed to present the relevant permits and documents for this imported shipment, violating regulations in Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018 of the Government and Circular No. 06/2011 – BYT dated January 25, 2011 of the Ministry of Health. The value of infringing goods is over VND8,435 billion.

In addition, in the shipment, are also 24 imported goods items, which are used electronics, game consoles and household appliances, subject to the List of goods banned from import specified in Section 4, Part II, Appendix I, Decree 69/2018/ND-CP dated May 15, 2018 of the Government. The infringing goods is valued at nearly VND274 million.

After a period of extensive investigation, verification and clarification of violations of B.S.V.N. Import-Export Trading Co., Ltd., on April 18, 2023, the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department under the General Department of Customs issued a Decision to prosecute the above criminal case and transfer the documents to the Ho Chi Minh City police for further investigation.