Lang Son works hard to prevent smuggled food

Increase cases of violation

According to the Lang Son Provincial Steering Committee for 389, lawbreakers have been taking advantage of the province's border areas to smuggle "dirty" food of unknown origin and without proper documentation. These individuals transport the food from inland provinces via vehicles through Loc Binh district and then smuggle it across the border into China. They employ tactics such as dividing the goods into smaller quantities, taking advantage of the night, and exploiting gaps in law enforcement to discreetly transport the food through border trails.

Additionally, some border residents are taking advantage of the darkness to smuggle small quantities of products like sausages and animal organs from China into Vietnam.

In response to these illicit activities, the Lang Son Provincial Steering Committee 389 has directed the province's anti-smuggling forces to strengthen efforts to prevent the illegal import and export of food across the border; eradicate networks and locations involved in the trade of food with unknown origin; contributing to prevent "dirty" food from infiltrating the market, protect domestic production, and the legitimate rights of consumers.

Chi Ma Customs Force inspected evidence of nearly 5.3 tons of pig feet seized on May 29. Photo: Bùi Quân

The resolute actions of law enforcement agencies in Lang Son have yielded substantial results in combating the illegal food trade. Typically, on May 28, Market Surveillance force in collaboration with the enforcement unit of anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods (389 Unit of Lang Son) stopped a Hyundai truck (refrigerated model) bearing license plate 29H-831.57 on National Highway 1A (in the area of Dong En Hamlet, Hoang Dong village, Lang Son City). Upon inspection, 45 bags of frozen chicken feet and pork trotters, weighing over 7 tons in total, were discovered hidden inside the truck. The driver, Nguyen Manh Hieu, failed to produce any documentation related to the goods.

Then, on May 29, A joint operation involving Chi Ma Customs Branch (Lang Son Customs Department), Border Guard forces, Market Surveillance, and Yen Khoi commune police (Loc Binh) inspected a refrigerated container No.WHLU 774084(3) at a vacant lot owned by Hoang Van Ngan in Yen Khoi commune. Competent forces found 263 bags of yellow sacks containing frozen pork trotters inside the container, weighing a total of nearly 5.3 tons. The shipment, valued at over VND200 million, lacked any invoices or documentation.

It was known that, on May 28, on Tran Dang Ninh Street in Tam Thanh ward, Lang Son City, competent authorities inspected a vehicle bearing license plate 29H-831.57. Six tons of pork trotters were discovered in the cargo compartment, without any accompanying paperwork to prove their origin.

Increase roadblocks

According to Chi Ma Customs Branch, the resumption of vibrant trade activities since the beginning of 2024 has also been accompanied by an increased risk of smuggling through border gates.

Smugglers and traders often employ sophisticated methods to deceive law enforcement officials, including falsifying the name, quantity, type, and origin of imported goods in electronic customs declarations, and concealing other types of goods within legitimate shipments to evade detection.

Notably, taking advantage of the cognitive limitations of border residents, smugglers hired border residents to carry small quantities of goods, primarily packaged food of unknown origin (sausages, chicken feet, pork trotters), into Vietnam. These small quantities, when aggregated, can accumulate into significant amounts.

Mr. Dang Van Ngoc, Director of Market Surveillance Department of Lang Son province, said that to strengthen control, the provincial Steering Committee 389 has directed the province's anti-smuggling forces to enhance the interception of smuggled food items.

The provincial Border Guard is instructed to intensify border patrols and deploy checkpoints along trails and shortcuts to prevent the illegal transport of food across the border. In parallel, Market Surveillance, Police, and Customs forces will establish mobile inspection teams in border communes and along transportation routes to promptly detect and intercept smuggled food shipments before they reach domestic markets.

Moreover, all forces are requested to effectively manage their respective areas, strictly handle violations within their jurisdiction, coordinate with relevant agencies to enforce food safety regulations, maintain vigilance in conducting surprise inspections, and severely punish food safety violations.