Many tricks to transport illicit goods through the port of Ho Chi Minh City

	2 containers at Cat Lai port were discovered many illicit goods
	Tightening anti-smuggling activities over Tet 2017
	Quang Tri Customs: active anti-smuggling activities from the border

The prohibited goods were detected by the Customs Branch of Saigon port, Zone 1 on 8th June 2017. Photo: Thu Hoa.

Prohibited goods transportation

On 8^th June 2017, the Customs Branch of Saigon port, Zone 1 coordinated with the Department of Investigation and Anti-smuggling - under the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Customs Control Team – the Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City inspected and discovered a container with used refrigerators. Mr. Le Nguyen Linh, the Deputy Manager of the Customs Branch of Saigon Port, Zone 1 said that the shipment was made by Tri Nguyen Import-Export and Services Co., Ltd. (located at 3/4 Phan Van Su, Tan Binh District, HCM City) in the recipient's name. After the shipment arrived at Cat Lai port, through information gathering, Customs officers of the Customs Branch of Saigon port, Zone 1 detected signs of commercial fraud, and then they conducted to scan the container. Through images from the scanning system, Customs officers found a lot of refrigerators, air conditioners and washing-machine, so the Customs Branch of Saigon port, Zone 1 issued a decision to inspect the goods. The results of inspections and detection of all shipments were as follows: Used air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, etc. on the list of banned goods to import.

According to Mr. Le Nguyen Linh, in order to detect the above-prohibited container, the Customs Control Team under the Customs Branch of Saigon port, Zone 1 has carefully studied the shipment records, discovered that this shipment was transported through many countries before arriving in Vietnam. Specifically, the shipment derived from Japan, and then was carried through the port in Shenzhen China, then to the port in Hong Kong, and finally to Cat Lai port - Ho Chi Minh City.

Earlier, at the end of 2016, at Cat Lai port - Ho Chi Minh City, Customs officers discovered many lots of illegally imported ivory. Perpetrators also used the tricks of transporting goods around many countries before returning to Vietnam. According to the analysis of Mr. Le Nguyen Linh, in the plan against smuggling, Customs officers often analyze the management of key products and routes, thus, many perpetrators change the route to distract Customs officers, avoid inspections of the authorities.

Banned goods in the form of consumer goods

In order to transport prohibited shipments to Vietnam, perpetrators used sophisticated tricks to distract the authorities at the border. In recent years, the Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City has discovered many consignments of illicit goods under the label of imported consumer goods. Recently, Customs officers have found a container of imported goods from Japan, but on the Customs declaration, the imported goods were plastic baskets. The Customs officers of the Saigon port, Zone 1 then paid much attention to this shipment. After opening the Customs declaration for many days, the owner of the shipment still did not come to receive the goods. On 6^th June 2017, the Customs Branch of Saigon port, Zone 1 in coordination with the Department of Investigation and Anti-smuggling - under the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Customs Inspection Team, the Border Guard inspected the container. After inspecting the container, there were no plastic baskets, but the whole lot of goods were used electronic products, on the list of prohibited imports, including: 47 refrigerators, 80 sets of the airconditioner , 50 dishwashers and 70 electric rice cookers.

Reportedly, this shipment was declared by Trong Nguyen Import Export Company. The company was licensed by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City on 30^th March 2017.

Earlier, on 30^th May 2017, Sinh Kim Transportation Trading Service Import Export Co., Ltd (Group 43, Bau Ke hamlet, Tan Phu town, Dong Phu district, Binh Phuoc province) imported goods from Japan to Vietnam through Cat Lai port, which was inspected with a large amount of smuggled goods, prohibited goods by the Customs Branch of Saigon port, Zone 1. In particular, there were undeclared goods as follows: 250 rolls of firewire, 2 used fire pumps; 150 used fishing rods and 6 used hand pallet trucks. Forbidden goods included wall clocks, used desks (50 units); used electric cookers (33 units); used gas stoves (27 units); used electric fans (40 units); and used rice cookers (70 units).

In order to transport the number of smuggled and banned goods to Vietnam, Sinh Kim Transportation Trading Service Import Export Co., Ltd took advantage of the type of goods transported from a border gate in Binh Phuoc, to declare as of used machinery.

Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Revenues are lower than the target VCN- Although the revenues of the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department in the first 5 months ...

According to leaders of the Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City, in order to timely prevent the import of prohibited goods and smuggled goods, the Customs officers shall strengthen inspections and control of Customs clearance of goods to prevent in a timely fashion.