Sharing of two Directors in the epicentre of the pandemic in HCM City and Binh Duong

Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch coordinated with Anti-Drug Enforcement Team (HCM City Customs Department) to seize more than 4.6 kg of drugs in September 2021. Photo: H.N

At the online conference regarding on working progress in the third quarter and working programme of the fourth quarter of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Director of HCM City Customs Department Dinh Ngoc Thang and Director of Binh Duong Customs Department Nguyen Phuoc Viet Dung shared about the efforts of customs officers and employees in the epicentre.

HCM City Customs: Promoting the effectiveness of the quick response team

Director of HCM City Customs Department Dinh Ngoc Thang said due to the turbulence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the unit was greatly affected and faced many challenges when they had to ensure the requirements of pandemic prevention and quick cargo clearance to support the business community.

The unit implemented pandemic prevention measures as prescribed, and with the support of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and colleagues of local customs units, the department had equipped protective equipment and contacted medical facilities to ensure vaccination for customs officers and employees following regulations.

"However, up to now, the whole department had 137 customs officers who were primary contacts, 69 were Covid-19 patients. In particular, one customs officer had an underlying disease, so even though he was actively supported by the unit and his family for treatment, he did not survive,” Director of HCM City Customs Department shared about the difficulties and losses of customs officers and employees during this fourth outbreak.

Besides the above case, there were 51 officers who had been recovered, other officers were being treated and have made very positive progress.

Despite facing many difficulties and dangers of the pandemic, HCM City Customs Department always strived to overcome difficulties and performed tasks.

In particular, the unit established and promoted two quick response teams: a quick response team for cargo clearance of goods (Group 1080) and a permanent group to prevent cargo congestion at the border gate (Group 1081).

As a result, by the end of September, HCM City Customs Department estimated to reach VND 87,000 billion in revenue collection, equal to 81% of the year estimate. From now to the end of the year, the unit strives to complete and exceed the revenue estimate of the year (the target of VND 108,000 billion).

Regarding anti-smuggling, since the beginning of the year, the unit has handled 189 cases. In particular, three cases were prosecuted and 34 cases were transferred to other agencies for prosecution.

There were 52 cases of drug violations. It had double compared to the same period in 2020, the number of drugs seized was more than 146 kg.

Binh Duong Customs: Together with the people to overcome difficulties

Leader of Binh Duong Customs Depatment give gifts to people in Di An ward (Binh Duong province). Photo: Thu Dịu

As the second-most affected province by the pandemic in the country (after HCM City), customs officers and employees of Binh Duong Customs Department also faced many difficulties and challenges.

During the turbulence of Covid-19 pandemic, to meet the requirements of pandemic prevention and ensure cargo clearance, Binh Duong Customs Department had arranged 63 customs officers to customs branches located in the red zone (where occurring complicated pandemic) and carried out “three on-spot”, Director of Binh Duong Customs Department Nguyen Phuoc Viet Dung said.

During this pandemic, the unit has six customs officers who were Covid-19 patients. So far four customs officers had been cured, two customs officers who had mild symptoms were treated at a low-level field hospital.

Although in the context of both pandemic prevention and ensuring cargo clearance, customs officials and employees of Binh Duong Customs Department made great efforts and determination to arrange time to implement a support programme for people in difficult areas.

From the contributions of customs officials and employees in the unit and calling for benefactors, Binh Duong Customs Department had mobilised a total of more than VND 1.6 billion to support and give gifts to people in difficult areas.

"Through those activities, local authorities and people understood and shared more about Customs force, and Binh Duong province's leaders highly appreciated the role of Customs," Director of Binh Duong Customs Department said.

Regarding work in the fourth quarter, Nguyen Phuoc Viet Dung said it was expected from October 1, the locality would have changes in measures to prevent and control the pandemic and the unit estimated that import and export activities could reach 70- 80% compared to the time before the pandemic. Therefore, the department had taken the initiative to ensure cargo clearance when workload increases again.

For the task of revenue collection, up to now, the whole department's revenue has reached about 93% of the year target. Therefore, Binh Duong Customs Department will strive to exceed the target of VND 16,700 billion in 2021.