Lao Bao Customs makes great efforts to shorten customs clearance time

	Illegally transporting gold and foreign currency worth nearly VND3 billion in Lao Bao
	Lao Bao special economic-commercial area - "Special" but still sluggish
	Lao Bao Customs screens 2,622 containers

Container screening at Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch.

Forecasting difficulties and challenges, from the beginning of the year, Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch has planned and performed key tasks, implemented well-operational work, effectively used specialized equipment to reduce customs clearance time and facilitate trade, and tourism activities across Lao Bao International Border Gate.

According to the branch, in the previous time, the manual inspection took about 2 to 5 hours for any shipment, even from 1 to 2 working days.

However, when applying container scanners in customs processes, it only takes from 8-10 minutes for analysis and taking goods out of the scanning area, and about 20-30 minutes for some complex cases.

The goods inspection by scanners has speeded up the customs clearance time for imports, exports, and transit goods; and reduced costs and time for businesses.

In particular, it has improved the customs inspection, supervision, and control capacity; supported inspection and detection for goods that have been falsely declared category, quantity, or failed to be declared, and trade fraud.

At the same time, the goods inspection by scanners has helped identify the location, risks, and suspicious signs without unloading the entire shipment, and reduced the time for physical inspection, especially for bulky goods…

As of October 15, the branch processed 6,256 import and export declarations, down 19.12%. The import and export turnover decreased 24.11% to US$ 315.3 million. The volume of imports and exports dropped 19.12% to 612,318 thousand tons year-on-year.

The branch processed 15,195 independent transport declarations (in transit), up 20.34%. The total value of goods in transit increased by 28.03% to US$5.7 billion compared with the same period of the previous year.

The branch has processed 156,309 exit and entry vehicles, up 13.18%; and 407,364 exit and entry passengers, up 23.59%.

As of October 15, the branch collected VND279.6 billion, decreasing by 6.58% compared with 2022, meeting 79.9% of the target and 76.82% of the ambitious target.

In addition, Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch has strengthened the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal transportation of goods across border gates, and made use of specialized equipment to combat sophisticated tricks of the suspects.