Quang Ninh Customs strictly contol temporary import and re-export cigarettes

Quang Ninh Customs officials supervised goods at bonded warehouse in Mong Cai City. Photo: Q.H

Strictly implementating procedures

According to Quang Ninh Customs Department, smuggling and illegal transportation of cigarettes continued ocurring complicatedly and unpredictably.

On the road, the smugglers tried to illegally transport cigarettes across the border, then they used passenger cars and cargo trucks which were reinforced the tunnels to hide and camouflage goods for transport to inland for consumption.

At sea, taking advantage of the long coastline with many ports, yards and berths that could gather and transshipment goods, smugglers often used speedboats to transport smuggled cigarettes while means of transports of competent forces lacked capacity for chasing.

To seize violating cases, the customs forces had to work hard in gathering information and arresting the smugglers while they were unloading goods from boats. Furthermore, the smuggled cigarettes were mostly 555 brand (not originated from Vietnam) and Esse.

Recently, as Permenant Office of Provincial Steering Committee 389, Quang Ninh Customs Department advised the provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Steering Committee 389 to issue guiding documents to warn, urge and always identify cigarettes as one of the key products for the member forces, the Steering Committee 389 of districts and cities to focus on preventing and stopping.

Besides that, Quang Ninh Customs also strictly implemented customs procedures, enhanced inspection and supervision of temporary import and re-export goods, goods stored in bonded warehouses, especially the shipment implement re-export procedure at night.

Accordingly, the unit requested its subordinate units, change to physical inspection of cargo, avoiding enterprises taking advantage of temporary import and re-export activity, bonded warehouse in order to declare incorrect name of goods, quantity, type and origin. On the other hand, only handling re-export of temporarily imported goods at the right place, enhancing forces and equipment to supervise goods transported along the right routes after leaving the management areas of customs operation; ensuring that the cargo shipment after completing customs procedures must be exported from Vietnam.

If goods have been transported to the export border gate but not implemented re-export procedure yet, the customs official must be arranged to monitor and supervise the process of storage and preservation of goods.

At the same time, to closely supervise warehouses and yards which were eligible for customs inspection and supervision; all handover stages must be expressed in writing, under the witness and certifying by related parties.

When carrying out procedures for temporary import and re-export shipment and bonded warehouses with sensitive items and high risk of smuggling and illegal transport goods across border, customs officials perform duty at parts and locations must exchange and provide sufficient information to the anti-smuggling enforcement force before completing the procedures to jointly supervise and control.

On the other hand, synchronously deploying professional measures, focusing on basic investigation to identify key enterprises that operating temporary import and re-export and bonded warehouses of cigarettes in the area.

Along with that, coordinate with the forces: Border Defence, Police, Market Management and Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Vietnam Customs) to grasp the situation, exchange and share related information and documents relating to enterprises which have high chance of taking advantage of temporary import and re-export activities, bonded warehouses for smuggling and subjects showing signs of smuggling and illegal transport of cigarettes across the border to promptly detect and prevent violations.

Proposal to stop temporary import and re-export cigarette

To improve the effectiveness of the fight against smuggling and illegal transport of cigarettes, in July 2019, Quang Ninh Customs consulted the provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Steering Committee 389 and proposed the Permenant Office of the National Steering Committee 389 and Ministry of Industry and Trade consider, announce the decision on suspension of temporary import and re-export activities, bonded warehouses of cigarettes in Quang Ninh province.

In the future, Quang Ninh Customs would continue to direct units to implement synchronous professional measures on control, focusing on the investigation and research to understand the situation.

At the same time, coordinate closely with the forces: Border Defence, Police, Market Management in exchanging and sharing information and documents related to enterprises and key objects to strictly control goods when carrying out procedures at the border gate, promptly detect, arrest and handle the subjects of smuggling and illegal transport of cigarettes across the border.

Quang Ninh Customs also continues to review, propose and suggest to competent authorities in order to promptly handle inadequacies and loopholes in the mechanism of policies to avoid subjects taking advantage for smuggling.