Risk of cigarette smuggling outbreak in Southwestern border in flood season

	Difficulties in preventing cigarette smuggling
	Dong Thap Customs busts two cases of cigarette smuggling, seizing nearly 2,500 packages

A car transporting over 6,000 packs of cigarettes was discovered by the Market Surveillance Department of Can Tho City on September 30, 2024.

Transporting smuggled goods in large quantity

According to the assessment of Steering Committee 389 of southwestern border provinces, in the flood season smugglers have gathered smuggled goods, mostly cigarettes, in arears near the border to use vehicles to transport the goods into Vietnam.

Recently, many cases of transporting and storing smuggled cigarettes in large quantities have been inspected and arrested by enforcement authorities.

On October 3, 2024, the People's Committee of Long An province commended the local police force for their outstanding achievements in the arrest of 60,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes.

Earlier, at Km34+500, Provincial Road 817, Vuon Xoai Hamlet, Thuan Nghia Hoa Commune, Thanh Hoa District, Long An Province, the local Police inspected a truck with license plate 62H-016.74 driven by Nguyen Cong Xuan, born in 1992, residing in Huong Chanh Town, Binh Xuyen District, Vinh Phuc Province, and discovered 120 cartons of imported cigarettes (a total of 60,000 packs), without any invoices or documents.

Working with the enforcement authorities, driver Xuan said that he was hired by a unknown person to transport the cigarettes for sale.

Another case, a smuggler transported smuggled cigarettes in a large quantity from the southwestern border to HCM City, which is further investigated by HCM City Police. At the end of June 2024, HCM City Market Surveillance Department coordinated with HCM City Police to inspect a truck moving on Cu Chi Overpass, Cu Chi district, HCM City, and seized 120,200 packs of cigarettes of foreign origin, without import stamps. The total value of the cigarettes is estimated at more than VND3.5 billion.

The southwestern border area continues to be a hot spot for cigarette smuggling. Smugglers often use cars to transport banned goods in large quantities.

On the morning of September 26, the Investigation Police Department on Economic, Corruption-related Crimes and Smuggling and Environment under Dong Thap Provincial Police coordinated with Cao Lanh City Police to inspect the house No. 1376/2, National Highway 30, Ward 11, Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap owned by Nguyen Huu Tam, born in 1970, and seized 8,980 packs of smuggled foreign cigarettes of various types.

Additionally, the working team discovered three Exciter 150cc motorbikes in Tam's house to transport smuggled cigarettes. All evidence was temporarily detained by Dong Thap Provincial Police for investigation and clarification.

At the end of August 2024, the Market Surveillance Department of Can Tho City coordinated with the Police to inspect a car with license plate 51G-637.60 stopping in front of an unnumbered house, located in Lan Thanh 1 Area, Trung Kien Ward, Thot Not District, Can Tho City, and discovered 4,510 packs of smuggled cigarettes hidden in 13 black plastic bags in the car. The enforcement authorities temporarily detained the car to find the owner.

Smugglers fight against enforcement authorities

According to the Steering Committee 389 of Can Tho City, smugglers often transport small quantities of smuggled cigarettes through trails and border crossings in the border area, then use cars with fake license plates to transport them inland for consumption. Notably, some smugglers are very aggressive and attack the enforcement authorities when they are arrested to escape.

Recently, on September 30, 2024, the Market Surveillance Department of Can Tho City discovered a Toyota Innova car with license plate 70A-413.65 parking in front of an unnumbered house at Binh Thanh Hamlet, Giai Xuan Commune, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City, and showing signs of transporting prohibited goods, so they inspected it.

When detecting the enforcement forces, the smugglers drove straight into the motorbike of a Market Surveillance officer on duty, then opened the car door and escaped. Inspecting the car, the working team discovered that the car was transporting 19 black plastic bags containing 6,280 packs of smuggled cigarettes and 10 fake car license plates.

The case was transferred to the Investigation Police Agency of Phong Dien District Police (Can Tho City Police) for consideration and criminal prosecution.

Notably, on September 26, HCM City Police seized a car carrying smuggled cigarettes. Accordingly, Cu Chi District Police stopped a 4-seat car carrying smuggled cigarettes on National Highway 22, from Tay Ninh Province to HCM City.

The driver transporting another young man in the car did not comply with the orders of the enforcement forces and escaped. When driving to the intersection, this car could no longer move. The driver reversed the car and crashed into other cars to escape, but the police force quickly broke the door, and arrested the driver. The remaining man opened the car door and fled.

Earlier, at the end of July, Thap Muoi District Police (Dong Thap) arrested Nguyen Van Nhon (born in 1997, residing in Tra Co Commune, Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province) using a car with many fake license plates to transport about 18,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes. Nhon said that he was hired to transport smuggled foreign cigarettes from Binh Hiep Border Gate in Kien Tuong Town (Long An province) to Can Tho city to supply to other subjects for consumption.