Speed boat used to smuggle cigarettes in Northeast Sea
Various tricks of hiding smuggled cigarettes | |
Long An strictly controls anti-smuggling at end of year | |
Confusion in management over next-generation tobacco products |
Some photos related to the smuggling of more than 4 million cigarette packs seized by the Customs Marine Enforcement Fleet No.1 |
Concerns over tobacco smuggling
The leader of the Customs Marine Enforcement Fleet No.1 (under the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department) said that in 2020 cigarette smuggling in the Northeast Sea is still a problem. During the year, the Fleet seized and handled four cases related to foreign cigarettes.
Typically, the seizureof a shipment of 8,549 packages of foreign cigarettes (more than 4 million packs), one ship and 23 suspects in March under the special plan TL-320. This is the largest cigarette smuggling case handled by Customs.
The success of the special plan TL-320 is a breakthrough in the fight against cigarette smuggling, and timely prevention of all cigarettes smuggled into the country for consumption, thereby confirming the position and the important role of the customs control force.
“Through the arrests, some tricks have been found, such as smugglers taking advantage of the dangerous coastal characteristics of Quang Ninh - Hai Phong, with many islands and channels, which are convenient for hiding goods and bad weather conditions, the suspects transfer the cargo to fishing boats, small boats and then transport them inland. Notably, smugglers use boats with2 to 8 engines and speeds of up to 45-50 knots to move to the coastal area from Quang Ninh to Thai Binh, Nam Dinh to tranship smuggled cigarettes to ships and boats disguised as fishing boats and transport them to shore, where there are no people. Then, the smuggled goods are loaded ashore at night, between 22:00 and 4 a.m. Then, they use cars with7-15 seats to transport tobacco inland,” leader of Fleet No. 1 said.
In addition, cigarette smuggling rings are often protected by gangsters; and there are linksbetween foreigners and domestic suspects to smuggle cigarettes into the country.
Smuggled cigarettes are cheap and are foreign, and cigarette packs are not printed with health warning images, so people prefer to use them.
Need to strengthen international cooperation
To further improve the effectiveness of the fight against smuggling in the Northeast Sea, the leader of the Fleet No. 1 proposed to strengthen international cooperation and information exchange with neighboring countries, and countrieswiththe transit of smuggled cigarettes into Vietnam. It is necessary to exchange information about cigarette imports, tobacco trade, and cooperate in controlling tobacco smuggling in border gates.
Enterprises trading and providing services for tobacco and foreign alcohol must deposit, open LCs, and pay via banks. Tobacco products are only allowed tobe exported through major border gates, international border gates, in full container load and not in less than container load.
For the customs control force, it is necessary to regularly train and improve operational knowledge and skills to enhance investigation skills. In addition, it is necessary to equip additional vehicles with powerful engines, and can operate in narrow channels, coastal areas, along islands and train officers to use thesevehicles.
Proposing the competent authorities to discuss with the Vietnam Tobacco Association to set up a fund to support and reward anti-smuggling forces upon the seizure of smuggled cigarettes.
Related News
Quang Tri Customs seizes 10,500 packages of smuggled cigarettes
15:28 | 19/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Quang Tri Customs seizes 10,500 packs of smuggled cigarettes
10:09 | 19/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Quang Ninh Customs tightens management of export processing, export production and processing enterprises
08:58 | 20/09/2024 Customs
Inspection work helps prevent fraud
09:00 | 20/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Latest News
Nghe An: Achieve effectiveness in coordinating to prevent drugs and prohibited goods
08:59 | 20/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
The 5 solutions to combat counterfeit smuggling and protect intellectual property rights
10:15 | 19/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Scrutinizing taxable price, HCM City Customs raises nearly VND 100 billion
10:11 | 19/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Saigon Post and Telecommunication forced to suspend customs procedures for 1 year for tax debts
09:33 | 18/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
More News
Quang Binh Customs arrests two suspects carrying 26 kg of drugs
20:39 | 17/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Express Customs Sub-department: Preventing a series of sophisticated drug trafficking cases
10:12 | 17/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Examine a series of businesses whose directors have just had their departure postponed
16:09 | 16/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Many cases related to production of fake food prosecuted
12:33 | 15/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Ha Tinh Customs, Border Guard work together to promote strengths in border control
11:04 | 14/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs: Preventing many sophisticated drug trafficking cases
09:45 | 13/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs: Stop many cases of sophisticated drug trafficking
15:45 | 12/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Beware of trick of Customs selling liquidated vehicles
14:41 | 11/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Under the spotlight: Businesses whose CEOs have been recently grounded
09:34 | 11/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Your care
Inspection work helps prevent fraud
09:00 | 20/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Nghe An: Achieve effectiveness in coordinating to prevent drugs and prohibited goods
08:59 | 20/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Quang Tri Customs seizes 10,500 packages of smuggled cigarettes
15:28 | 19/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
The 5 solutions to combat counterfeit smuggling and protect intellectual property rights
10:15 | 19/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Scrutinizing taxable price, HCM City Customs raises nearly VND 100 billion
10:11 | 19/09/2024 Anti-Smuggling