Rhino horns and cigars transported to Vietnam by air

	15 kg rhino horn seized at Noi Bai Airport: Police continues to investigate
	Foreigner arrested transporting nearly 15 kg of rhino horns
	34 kg rhino horns transported via airway were seized

Rhino horn seized by competent forces at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: T.B

According to the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (under the General Department of Vietnam Customs), in the first months of the year, the risk of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods, especially banned and high value goods have still taken place through air routes. The goods include rhino horns, cigars, mobile phones, watches, cosmetics and bird's nests.

Particularly, there have been many cases of suspects hiding cannabis and synthetic drugs in goods (machinery, equipment, clothes, and candy boxes) and sending themvia express delivery to Vietnam.

According to statistics of the Department, until the end of June, the entire Customs sector detected 340 cases via airand express delivery services, up 7.94% compared to 2018; the value of infringing goods was estimated at VND 54,514 billion, an increase of 729.17%.

Targeted areas that are closely controlled by the Customs Enforcement force are NoiBai International Airport (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang International Airport, Hanoi Post Office and Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, as well as the express sites of some international firms.

In the implementation of the first phase of the ME319 plan, on the 25th and 26th of June, the Anti-drug Enforcement Team coordinated with the Express Cargo Customs Branch, Team 6 (under Anti-Smuggling and InvestigationDepartment ), Division PC04 (Ho Chi Minh City Police) in inspecting seven imported parcels and seized more than 14kg of synthetic drugs including MDMA and Ketamine.

The above parcels were sent from France, Germany and Thailand to Ho Chi Minh City through international postal and express delivery services, under the the form of donations and gifts.

Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch (under Hanoi Customs Department) presided over and coordinated with Team 1 (under Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department) and competent forces to detect and arrest a foreigner passenger who illegally transported more than 15kg of rhino horn from South Africa to Noi Bai International Airport on April 9.

On March 24, the Exit and Entry Luggage Customs Procedures Team (under Da Nang International Airport Customs Branch) detected a female Cuban passenger carrying more than 3,000 cigars from Thailand to Vietnam on PG997 flight at Danang International Airport.