Tan Son Nhat Customs carries out procedures for thousands of passengers every day

Customs officers of Import Luggage Customs Team check baggage through scanning machines.

Double increase

On February 23, reporters of Customs News arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Although many areas of the terminal were still closed, the departure hall and arrival hall of the international terminal were lively again.

At the arrival terminal, the Import Luggage Procedure Team is ready to take the first flight from Singapore to Tan Son Nhat at 8:15 am, with 20 passengers, and then the entry flight from Singapore with 288 passengers.

According to our observations, the number of passengers started to increase gradually around midday to afternoon. Passengers on flights arriving at the airport were quite far apart, so the procedures took place quickly at the airport.

At the area for implementing customs procedures for imported luggage, the Import Luggage Procedure Team performed priority channeling (green channel) for women and children; appointing customs officers to guide passengers to carry out procedures, so the customs clearance time was very fast and convenient.

Passengers entering through the border gate of Tan Son Nhat international airport are increasing every day. Photo T.D

Head of Import Luggage Procedure Team Phan Minh Hung said: "According to the plan (February 23), there would be 17 entry flights with nearly 2,000 passengers. In order to promptly carry out the task, the Team proactively grasped flight information to arrange for customs officers to perform their duties, and took the initiative to carry out professional tasks.”

At the departure hall, passengers who fulfilled exit procedures were also quite active. Head of the Export Luggage Procedure Team Le Minh Tung said that although flights and passengers on exit had doubled compared to the previous time, they were still modest, with several dozen flights per day. As expected, on February 23, there would be a total of 19 departure flights.

Take the initiative

Leaders and customs officers of the Export Luggage Procedure Team perform the screening of luggage. Photo T.D

From February 15, Vietnam lifted restrictions on passenger transport on international regular and irregular flights, Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch has proactively prepared human resources, as well as implemented many support solutions and customs clearance for immigration flights which are increasing day by day.

According to the leader of Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch, implementing the dual goal of performing Covid-19 pandemic prevention, and also the political task of carrying out customs procedures for passengers on entry and exit, the unit has synchronously implemented solutions such as ensuring safe working conditions, strictly complying with regulations on pandemic prevention and control.

The Customs Branch has established a professional team and a quick response team operating 24/7 to promptly solve problems arising during customs procedures; proactively make plans to be ready when the number of passengers increases after commercial international flights are allowed to resume; creating favorable conditions for immigration procedures to be carried out quickly and accurately but still ensuring compliance with regulations, not being subjective or losing vigilance in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, illegal transport of drugs and currency through the area.

Passengers carry out exit procedures at Tan Son Nhat international airport on the morning of February 23, 2022. Photo T.D

Along with that, the Customs Branch has stepped up the prevention of smuggling and trade fraud; applied risk management in carrying out customs procedures for luggage of passengers on entry and exit based on the assessment of potential risks from key air routes and the screening and collection of information about key objects; strictly control the area, coordinate well with relevant units to improve the effectiveness of the fight against smuggling.

Regularly grasp and promote political and ideological education, strengthen discipline and internal solidarity for customs officers. It is strictly forbidden for the act of causing trouble and harassing visitors on entry and exit. The unit also requests customs officers to firmly understand professional processes and communication in guiding and handling customs procedures for passengers on entry and exit.