Smuggling of consumer goods across Southern Border increases - Part 1: Smuggled cigarettes transported from Cambodia to Vietnam rises

VCN – From the beginning of the year, the pandemic has been brought under control, the economy reopened and the exit and entry of passengers resumes. However, the illegal transportation of smuggled goods and currency across the Southern Border sees complicated development, especially at the end of the year. Law enforcement agencies have made plans and prevented offenses.
HCM City Customs requests effective control of goods in transit HCM City Customs requests effective control of goods in transit
The peak period of anti-smuggling and trade fraud before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2023 The peak period of anti-smuggling and trade fraud before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2023
Hanoi Customs seizes more than 372kg of drugs Hanoi Customs seizes more than 372kg of drugs
Smuggling of consumer goods across Southern Border increases - Part 1:   Smuggled cigarettes transported from Cambodia to Vietnam rises
Dong Thap Customs Department seized over 5,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes in August 2022. Photo: TEL

Issues at border gates

According to the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department under the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the trafficking and illegal transportation of goods across provinces bordering other countries take place with sophisticated tricks such as hiding foreign cigarettes in water pipes and dropping them in the river to take to Vietnam; and using motorboats to transport smuggled cigarettes at night.

Dong Thap Customs Department said that the smuggling of foreign cigarettes in Dong Thap province did not fall compared with the previous year due to the high demand for this item in the domestic market and the high difference in the price, so many people participate in cigarette trafficking and transportation.

The Customs force has coordinated with other competent forces to regularly inspect and control key areas to prevent the establishment of large-scale smuggling rings and gangs, and handled many offenses.

The local department collaborated with local competent agencies to handle about 80 cases of smuggling cigarettes from Cambodia to Vietnam with about 90,000 packs of foreign cigarettes such as Hero, Jet, Nelson, Scott, Bayon, with a total value of about VND1.5 billion.

In addition, the department has handled three cases, and seized 6,250 packs of foreign cigarettes worth about VND114 million.

In November, the local Technical Customs Team at So Thuong Border Gate coordinated with the local police to patrol and control the route from Coi Dai Bridge to Binh Hoa Ha hamlet, Thuong Lac commune, Hong Ngu district, Dong Thap province to seize 3,500 packs of foreign cigarettes. These smuggled cigarettes were transported by motorboats from Cambodia to Vietnam at night.

Captain Huynh Viet Kieu, Head of the Border Guard Station under Ha Tien International Border Gate Station (Kien Giang Province), said that from 3am to 5am on November 25, the working team of Ha Tien International Border Gate Station and Sa Ky Border Guard Station handled four smuggling cases and 4,000 packs of cigarettes.

At the international border gates of Xa Mat, Tan Nam, Ka Tum, Phuoc Tan (Tay Ninh province), the smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of goods tends to increase, including the smuggling of foreign cigarettes.

According to Tay Ninh Customs Department, in the first nine months of 2022, the department handled 290 cases of smuggling, commercial fraud, counterfeit goods and illegal cross-border transportation of goods and arrested 283 violators. In which, there are seven cases of illegal transportation of cigarettes across the border with 560 packs of cigarettes.

Many tricks to ship goods inland

In addition to dozens of cases of transporting smuggled foreign cigarettes handled by the competent authorities at the border gate, smugglers also transported and gathered a large number of smuggled cigarettes across the border area and then ship them inland for consumption.

Smugglers often transport less than 1,500 packs on each ship to avoid criminal prosecution. The smuggled cigarettes are taken from the dealers, and transported on trucks and passenger cars to the inland, stored at warehouses and then sold to grocery stores. However, many large cases of transporting smuggled cigarettes for domestic consumption were handled by law enforcement.

Recently, in Binh Duong province, through information provided by the public, Ben Cat town police inspected a truck with License Plate 63C-038.75 and discovered 250,000 packs of cigarettes and 15 tons of smuggled sugar worth about VND5.3 billion. The Investigation Police Agency issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case and decided to make an action plan for investigation.

In Dong Nai, the local police successfully busted two rings of trafficking, storing and transporting smuggled cigarettes from the Cambodian border to Dong Nai. Currently, the police agency has prosecuted the cases and 12 suspects for trafficking and transporting banned goods, and seized 65,286 packs of smuggled cigarettes. This is the largest quantity of smuggled cigarettes seized in the province.

Similarly, the Can Tho City Police discovered a case of trading banned goods in large quantity with a sophisticated operation, involving many provinces and cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Dong Nai, Hau Giang, An Giang.

The law enforcement forces have issued a decision to prosecute five suspects, seized 21,065 packs of smuggled cigarettes and many related documents.

Ahead of the Lunar New Year 2023, the demand for cigarettes in the domestic market increases. The cigarette smuggling across border gates and border crossings in the Southern border caused concerns. Anti-smuggling forces and localities have executed anti-smuggling plans in the peak months before, during and after the Lunar New Year, aiming to effectively prevent illegal trade and transportation of goods, especially cigarettes.

On December 10, the National Steering Committee 389 issued a Peak Plan on anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year, and requested the Steering Committee 389 of ministries, sectors and localities to prevent smuggling, illegal transportation of goods across border gates, sea areas and trade fraud and fake goods.

By Hoa-Diu/Hoang Loan

Related News

Identify smuggling tricks across Quang Tri area

Identify smuggling tricks across Quang Tri area

VCN – Although the smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across Quang Tri Border in the customs control area decrease in the number of cases and the value of goods, this situation still takes place complicatedly and shows potential risks and challenges.
Noi Bai Customs Branch gathers information to prevent gold smuggling

Noi Bai Customs Branch gathers information to prevent gold smuggling

VCN – Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch has implemented solutions to prevent gold smuggling by air to respond to fluctuation of gold and foreign currency prices.
Build advantages - Secure the future with Vietnam ESG 2024 Initiative

Build advantages - Secure the future with Vietnam ESG 2024 Initiative

VCN - In the context of global economic integration, Vietnamese businesses are facing many challenges in meeting strict requirements for green and sustainable development from investors, partners, international market and consumers. Faced with this trend, Vietnamese businesses, especially those participating in global supply chains or exports, are facing increasing pressure to apply ESG practices to avoid falling behind or being eliminated from the "game".
Proactive in dealing with exchange rate pressure

Proactive in dealing with exchange rate pressure

VCN - Recently, the State of Bank (SBV) withdrew VND 30,000 billion through the T-bills channel, contributing to reducing exchange rate pressure. This is just one of the moves of the monetary policy management agency to stabilize the foreign exchange market, contributing to supporting the macro economy as well as import-export business activities of enterprises.

Latest News

The Ministry of Finance urges the implementation of anti-smuggling tasks

The Ministry of Finance urges the implementation of anti-smuggling tasks

VCN - Steering Committee 389 of the Ministry of Finance has just requested the General Department of Vietnam Customs, General Department of Taxation, and units under the Ministry of Finance (Office, Legal Department, Inspection) to seriously and effectively implement the conclusions of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of Steering Committee 138/CP and National Steering Committee 389 (in Notice No. 38/TB-VPCP dated February 2, 2024 of the Government Office).
Arrested an illegal immigrant transporting drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam

Arrested an illegal immigrant transporting drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam

VCN- An illegal immigrant transporting 174 gram drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam have been arrested by Border Guard and Customs authorities at Moc Bai International Border Gate.
Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Effectively monitor goods in transit with e-seals

Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Effectively monitor goods in transit with e-seals

VCN - Thanks to the application of modern management and supervision measures with electronic seals, inspection by scanners for goods in transit, goods temporarily imported for re-export, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has effectively controlled the situation of violations of Customs laws of this type.
Cotrol smuggling of gold and foreign currency across border gates

Cotrol smuggling of gold and foreign currency across border gates

VCN- From the beggining of the year, gold and foreign currency prices have fluctuated strongly due to the smuggling and tax evasion cases across the border with sophisicated tricks, causing serious impacts on the gold and foreign currency markets.

More News

Lang Son: Prevent poultry and poultry products from being illegally transported across the border

Lang Son: Prevent poultry and poultry products from being illegally transported across the border

VCN - According to the assessment, the Chi Ma border gate area always has a potential risk of outbreaks of violations related to smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border due to the large and complex area. For good control, Lang Son province's leaders requested forces to strengthen blocking, deploy control measures, and promptly handle emerging security and order issues in border areas and border gates.
Applying customs intelligence and IT to prevent abusing of the "green channel" for smuggling

Applying customs intelligence and IT to prevent abusing of the "green channel" for smuggling

VCN - At the questioning session of National Assembly deputies on March 18, 2024, the Minister of Finance said that the Customs sector has applied science and technology in goods classification, used camera systems, Customs intelligence, data analysis to minimize the situation of businesses taking advantage of green channels to commit violations.
Tuan Nam UNITED One Member Company Limited enforced to stop customs procedures for one year

Tuan Nam UNITED One Member Company Limited enforced to stop customs procedures for one year

VCN – Huu Nghi Border Gate Customs Branch (Lang Son Customs Department) has issued an enforcement decision stopping customs procedures for imports and exports of Tuan Nam UNITED One Member Company Limited for tax debt, late payment interest and fines.
What solution is there to prevent "ghost businesses" from tax evasion?

What solution is there to prevent "ghost businesses" from tax evasion?

VCN - LTS: After the Customs Magazine published a series of articles "Finding the delayed tax debts of enforced enterprises" on issues 19, 20, 21, the Editorial Office received a lot of angry feedback from readers that reflected the situation of some individuals misusing personal information to establish illegal businesses and evade state taxes. Customs Magazine continues to reflect this pressing issue to readers.
Innovating the organizational model of anti-smuggling activities of Vietnam Customs

Innovating the organizational model of anti-smuggling activities of Vietnam Customs

VCN - Building a customs control force at the central level which is the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, and at the local level, forming a Regional Anti-Smuggling Team that can belong to the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department or the Regional Customs Department, etc.
C.D.M.A Mobile Phone Center enforced to suspend customs procedures for overdue tax debts

C.D.M.A Mobile Phone Center enforced to suspend customs procedures for overdue tax debts

VCN – C.D.M.A Mobile Phone Center has been enforced by the Customs to suspend its imports and exports for overdue tax debts worth about VND16 billion.
Seeking overdue tax debts of enforced businesses – Final part: Recommendations for effective debt recovery

Seeking overdue tax debts of enforced businesses – Final part: Recommendations for effective debt recovery

VCN - Through the recent implementation of debt recovery solutions, HCM City Customs has proposed many solutions and recommendations to amend some current regulations to recover tax debts effectively.
Drug prevention right from the point of origin

Drug prevention right from the point of origin

VCN - One of the key missions set out for anti-drug forces in 2024 is preventing drugs right from the point of origin and from remote; attacking the whole line not just the middle part; seize the instigators and leaders.
Seeking overdue tax debts of enforced businesses – Part 1: Some enforced exit suspension to find out that they are directors

Seeking overdue tax debts of enforced businesses – Part 1: Some enforced exit suspension to find out that they are directors

VCN – In addition compliant businesses, contributing large tax revenue to the State budget and bolstering economic development, there are still some businesses taking advantage of the openness of the law to establish illegitimate companies to delay billions of dong in tax debt for many years, in order to avoid tax obligations to the State. To collect these tax debts, the Law on Tax Administration No. 38/2019/QH14 stipulates eight measures to enforce administrative decisions on tax management. One of those effective measures is exit suspension for legal representatives of businesses, which has helped the Customs agency earn hundreds of billions of dong in import-export tax and domestic taxes.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Identify smuggling tricks across Quang Tri area

Identify smuggling tricks across Quang Tri area

VCN - According to Quang Tri Customs Department, in the first quarter of 2024, Quang Tri Customs Enforcement Team has detected and handled 70 customs offences with total fine of VND404,76 million.
The Ministry of Finance urges the implementation of anti-smuggling tasks

The Ministry of Finance urges the implementation of anti-smuggling tasks

Steering Committee 389 of the Ministry of Finance requested GDVC, General Department of Taxation, and units to seriously and effectively implement the conclusions of Deputy Prime Minister on anti-smuggling
Arrested an illegal immigrant transporting drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam

Arrested an illegal immigrant transporting drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam

VCN - However, he was arrested by Moc Bai Border Guard, Moc Bai Border Gate Customs, Long Thuan Commune Police, and Ben Cau District Police, and Tay Ninh Province.
Noi Bai Customs Branch gathers information to prevent gold smuggling

Noi Bai Customs Branch gathers information to prevent gold smuggling

VCN - Notably, the branch busted foreign passengers illegally transporting 86,300,000 won (equivalent to VND1.5 billion) across the border in early 2023.
Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Effectively monitor goods in transit with e-seals

Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Effectively monitor goods in transit with e-seals

VCN - Thanks to the application of modern management and supervision measures with electronic seals, inspection by scanners for goods in transit, goods temporarily imported for re-export, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has effectively controlled the
Mobile Version