More than 4,000 customs offences detected on road borders

	Nine noticeable cases of smuggling and transporting banned goods in June
	Handling 29 criminal cases in customs field
	Increased petrol and oil smuggling on the sea in the South West border

Smuggled household appliances seized by Quang Tri Customs. Photo: T.B

According to the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department, in the first half of 2019, there were many violations along targeted routes including road border, sea ways, international seaports, airports and by post.

For the road border route, the Customs detected 4,061 violations, and the value of infringing goods was estimated at over VND 1,073 billion.

The number of violations on road borders accounted for 45.5% of the total number of violations in the first half of the year, increasing by 993 cases compared to 2018, and the value of infringing goods increased 11 times.

Targeted routes have the risk of violation from the North to the South, including border areas of of Lang Son, Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, and An Giang.

Infringing goods on road border routes include drugs, pangolin scales, wild animals, sugar, soft drinks, clothes and footwear.

Results of arrest on the road border in the first half of 2018 and 2019. Chart: T.B

The Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department said that the topography of many dangerous areas, trails and border crossings makes it convenient for smugglers to transport goods.

“Smugglers hide banned goods in imported and exported goods or in luggage of passengers on exit or entry, causing difficulties for competent forces in inspection, control, detection and arrest," the representative of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department said.

"When transporting goods into Vietnam, smugglers use illegal invoices and documents.”

Notably, to transport infringing goods inland, smugglers divide goods and transport these goods by car and truck on different roads to avoid detection by competent agencies.