Noi Bai International Border Gate Customs Sub-department: "Blocking" drugs via air

	Milk as a cover for illicit drug transportation on airlines
	Suspected rhino horn smuggler intercepted at Noi Bai International Airport

Trick to hide cannabis resin in fruit cans.

Dismantling many drug trafficking lines

Deputy Head of Noi Bai International Airport Customs Sub-department Phung Quang Minh said that Noi Bai International Airport currently ranks first in the volume of import and export goods and second in the volume of passengers entering and exiting the country by air. As of November 30, 2024, the Sub-department has processed procedures for more than 33,000 international flights with more than 5 million passengers and about 547,000 tons of import and export goods.

Along with the recovery and growth of passenger and cargo flights, illegal drug transportation by air is on the rise with increasingly sophisticated and complex tricks and constantly changing methods of operation.

Therefore, the Sub-department always identifies the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, illegal transportation of goods across the border, especially the fight against drugs as the key and important political task of the unit. To proactively prevent and stop fraudulent acts, on the one hand, the unit strengthens its patrol and control plans, on the other hand, focuses on propagating and disseminating to agencies and businesses in the area about legal policies in the customs sector, warning about methods and tricks of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods and drugs through international airports.

Especially with the close and timely direction of the Party Committee and the leadership of Hanoi Customs Department, together with the efforts and proactiveness of the unit as a whole, and the close, synchronous, and effective coordination between the Department and functional forces inside and outside the sector, many cases of illegal drug transportation have been continuously detected, transferred information to fight, arrest, and destroy many cases of illegal drug transportation. As a result, many transnational drug rings were destroyed by Noi Bai Customs in coordination with functional forces.

In 2024, Noi Bai International Airport Customs Sub-department coordinated with C04-Ministry of Public Security; Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Customs); PC04-Hanoi City Police and the Drug Control Team under Hanoi Customs Department to investigate 32 cases of illegal drug transportation, arresting 17 subjects with 294.925 kg of various drugs. Of which, 8 cases were detected through luggage, arresting 10 subjects and 18.802 kg of various drugs including 1 kg of ketamine, 4.38 kg of marijuana, 9.154 kg of MDMA, 4.245 kg of cocaine and 23.12 grams of Methamphetamine. 24 cases were detected along the cargo route, 7 subjects were arrested and 276.123 kg of various drugs were seized, including 58.5 kg of ketamine, 20.674 kg of cannabis, 75.673 kg of MDMA, 121.276 kg of Delta 9, 0.3 grams of heroin and 0.3568 grams of Methamphetamine.

In addition, through pre-screening, information about the sender, recipient and professional measures, Noi Bai International Airport Customs Sub-department identified many suspicious cases and provided information to customs Sub-departments outside the border gate for inspection, arrest and handling according to regulations. The unit coordinated to transfer information to detect and arrest 18 cases, seizing 405.3763 ​​kg of synthetic drugs MDMA and 57.72 kg of ketamine.

In particular, in June and July 2024, the Sub-department transferred information to the North Hanoi Customs Sub-department to coordinate with functional forces to arrest 2 cases. The first case arrested 4 subjects and 179 kg of MDMA drugs transported from Germany to Vietnam. The second case arrested 5 subjects, seized 101.79 kg of MDMA drugs and 14.719 kg of Ketamine transported from France to Vietnam.

Strengthening solutions to strictly control air routes

Noi Bai International Airport has a special position, being a stopover in the flight network from Europe, America, South Asia to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and Asia-Pacific; at the same time, it is an important gateway for trade with the world by air of the three Indochinese countries. Therefore, the risk of smuggling and transporting drugs by air is always latent.

The leader of Noi Bai International Airport Customs Sub-department said that in order to prevent, combat and suppress drug crimes, the Sub-department always strictly implements the instructions of the Government, the Ministry of Finance, the National Steering Committee 389 and Hanoi City as well as the customs control work plans of the General Department of Customs and Hanoi Customs Department. Deploying the development of a key monitoring and inspection plan for 2025, strengthening the collection of risk management information, focusing on key routes and subjects.

In addition, the unit focuses on doing a good job in professional work, strengthening the screening of goods and luggage, especially pre-screening of goods transported from Noi Bai to customs Sub-departments outside the border gate to promptly warn, fight and arrest. Actively coordinate and share information with functional forces inside and outside the sector such as the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Customs); C04 - Ministry of Public Security, PC04 - Hanoi City Police, Soc Son District Police and other relevant agencies in the fight to detect and arrest violators.

At the same time, carry out modernization reforms, enhance management efficiency, and use specialized equipment provided. Continue to exploit and use the "Software of Entry and Exit Information" to support the analysis, identification and monitoring of key subjects, thereby improving the effectiveness of customs inspection and supervision.

In addition, focus on organizing internal training and education, ensuring that civil servants are proficient in using specialized equipment for professional work; research and develop simulation software, training in screening and analyzing screening images for customs officers.