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Officers of Unit 4 inspect seized infringing goods on October 18 in Lang Son. Photo: Hoang Cuong.

Many sophisticated tricks

According to the report of Steering Committee 389 of Lang Son province, in 2023, the local law enforcement forces closely controlled the smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods. Sometimes, the illegal food exports with small quantity across the borders of Loc Binh, Trang Dinh and Cao Loc districts, the smuggling of poultry breeds across the border area of Loc Binh district, and transportation of firecrackers from the border area into the domestic area took place. In addition, the trade fraud related to import and export activities and e-commerce in the province also complicatedly occurred.

According to the law enforcement forces, in order to illegally transport goods across the border, smugglers have used many tricks to outsmart the detection of the forces. They have assigned staff to monitor and transport goods across the border at night., and hired border residents to transport goods. When the smugglers were detected by the enforcement forces, they had left the goods and escaped.

The representative of Lang Son Customs Department, at Huu Nghi International Border Gate, some enterprises have abused the policy of goods exempt from physical inspection to implement smuggling and illegally transport goods and evade the state's goods management policy.

Some drivers have implemented sophisticated activities such as hiding goods in the trunk, cabin or undercarriage... to transport firecrackers across the border.

Notably, on December 24, in Lang Ha village, Quan Son commune, Chi Lang district (Lang Son), the Anti-smuggling, Counterfeit Goods and Intellectual Property Right Protection Enforcement Unit (Unit 4, Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, General Department of Vietnam Customs) in coordination with Chi Lang District Police and Lang Son City Police discovered 77.5 kg of fireworks in a 4-seater car.

Working with the competent authorities, Vi Thi Hue (the driver), 38, residing in Lang Ha village said that that she took the fireworks at the warehouse of Mrs Tran Thi Da (her mother).

Inspecting the warehouse, the working team discovered 713 more rectangular boxes suspected to be fireworks weighting of more than 1 ton.

On the evening of October 18, at Highway 1A in Mai Pha commune, Lang Son city, the working group of Unit 4 and Lang Son City Police inspected the tractor with the license plate 12H - 015.99 and a semi-trailer with the license plate 12R - 014.29 driven by Luong Ngoc Tung, 39, residing in Yen The district, Bac Giang province with suspicious signs.

The working team seized 458 Chinese-made firecracker boxes, weighting 667.5 kg and 980 artillery pieces (grenade artillery) total weight 47.5 kg. Luong Ngoc Tung admitted that he bought the above fireworks in China and transport them to Bac Giang for consumption.

Inspecting targeting arears

Mr. Doan Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of Steering Committee 389 of Lang Son province, said that before, during and after the Lunar New Year, the smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods will see complicated factors. Therefore, Steering Committee 389 of Lang Son province requires the enforcement forces to take drastic measures to prevent the trade of banned goods, low-quality goods and goods infringing intellectual property right in the market.

The local Steering Committee 389 requested the Border Guard to take measures and proactively prevent smuggling, transport of contraband goods, and illegal entry and exit across the control area. The Committee asked the Customs force to strengthen information collection, inspection and control in the customs control, especially focusing on strictly controlling import and export goods across border gates.

Mr. Doan Thanh Son requested the Police and Market Surveillance forces to monitor the area, closely control the local production and business establishments; prevent violations in e-commerce activities. The Tax Authority was required to strengthen the management and use of invoices by local organizations and individuals.

The Vice Chairman also requested the Steering Committee 389 of districts and cities, especially border districts, to strengthen management the area and prevent smuggling across the area.

In 2023, the law enforcement forces in Lang Son province inspected and handled 6,321 cases, an increase of 30.55% compared to 2022; prosecuted 427 cases, an increase of 22.352% year-on year, and 613 subjects, up 22.85%; fined over VND 77 billion from administrative violations.