Launching a series of measures to fight smuggling in the last months of 2022

Director General Nguyen Van Can speak during a working session on coordination in the fight against drug-related crimes between the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Drug-related Crime Investigation Police Department (C04, Ministry of Public Security) in May, 2022. Photo: T.Bình

Advising and fighting directly

In terms of anti-smuggling and trade fraud prevention, the Customs sector continues to strengthen the drastic implementation of the directives and resolutions of the Party, State, Government, National Steering Committees 389 and Ministry of Finance.

Furthermore, consolidating the assistance unit of the Standing Body of the Steering Committee 389 of the Ministry of Finance to ensure high efficiency in directing the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting.

Furthermore, collecting and processing professional information, promptly sharing information and developing plans. At the same time, the customs sector applies professional customs control measures, strengthening inspection and strict control of the routes, locations, and key products which focuses on banned items, goods of great value, high tax rates, various types of processing, export production, investment without subject to tax, independent transport, goods temporarily imported and re-export, temporarily exported and re-import, border-gate transshipment, goods in transit and goods deposited in bonded warehouses, etc.

Thereby promptly detecting, preventing, seizing and effectively handling violations of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, prohibited goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights, illegal transport of goods across borders and other crimes in the field of customs.

Moreover, strengthening leadership and direction in drug prevention improves the capacity and effectiveness of training and use of sniffer dogs in the fight against drugs and explosives. Communicating to the people about the dangers of smuggling and illegal transport of goods and drugs across the border so that all citizens do not participate and do help smugglers violate the customs law.

The Customs sector continues to propose amendments and supplements to the provisions of law on the competence of the Customs authorities in criminal investigation activities; increase the authority to sanction administrative violations in the form of "monetary penalty" and "confiscation of material evidence and vehicles"; the implementation of the Criminal Procedure Code (audio recording, video recording, hold in custody and arrest of offenders, construction of warehouses for the temporary seizure of exhibits); provisions of the law on commercial activities, procedures for goods temporarily imported and re-export, transshipment, warehousing operation, loading and unloading, and the handling of foreign violators.

Urging the implementation of conclusions on inspection

Regarding inspection and examination, the customs sector has reviewed and evaluated the implementation of the specialized inspection plan in 2022 of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and local customs departments to propose adjustments to the plan in 2022 (if any). In addition, strengthening internal inspection through thematic inspection, irregular inspection according to signs of violations, online inspection through the professional information systems of the Customs sector, and surveillance camera systems in order to promptly detect violations of the enterprises, as well as limitations and shortcomings in the process of performing duties of customs officers.

Along with that is to monitor and urge the implementation of conclusions and recommendations of inspection teams implemented by the Government Inspectorate and superior units. Collecting information, and develop plans for specialized inspection and internal inspection in 2023.

Maintaining strict online duty

In the last months of the year, the Customs sector continued to strictly maintain the performance of duty at all levels; maintaining the smooth operation of on-duty management systems; directing online inspection and supervision for suspected shipments; coordinating to supervise cases of re-export due to being mistakenly sent, lost, unclaimed or refused to receive goods and overdue shipments.

Monitoring and urging the final settlement of messages on the system about backlogged shipments; consider responsibility for cases of failure to comply with regulations and directions.

Strengthening analysis and evaluation of dossiers of violations, methods, tricks, and potentially fraudulent items detected through duty performance, transferring them to professional units to inspect and warn in the whole sector.

Proactively communicate the results of on duty and violations to prevent and deter businesses that intend to violate, improve the law compliance of enterprises, and warn consumers to choose wisely when using products on the market.