The Customs strengthens anti-cigar smuggling

	Increasing the excise tax does not increase the smuggling of cigarettes
	Smuggled cigarettes still “hot” in An Giang province
	Difficulty in sanction on smuggled cigarettes

Case of 4 passengers transporting cigars from Cuba to Vietnam seized by the Customs force. Photo: Q.H

Accordingly, the GDVC has requested units to implement well the information collection for analysis by: situation prediction, identifying key areas, synchronously implementing operational measures, prompt detection, seize and handle violations, effective fight against major perpetrators, organizations, smuggling rings and groups, and not to allow serious violations to occur in the areas.

In particular, the Customs forces must strengthen regular patrols and control at border gates, trails, tracks, the two wings of border gates, economic zones, commerce zones, places gathering goods near border gates, routes of roads, railways, waterways, seaways, aviation, especially Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airports and areas managed by the Customs.

Customs units must lead and coordinate with other competent agencies such as Police, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Market Management in exchanging information, grasping situation, patrolling, controlling, developing plans and synchronously taking measures to fight and prevent smuggling and illegal transportation across border gates.

According to the National Steering Committee 389, implementing the Prime Minister's Directive 30/CT-TTg dated 30 September 2014 on strengthening anti-tobacco smuggling, over the past time, ministries, sectors and localities and competent agencies have arrested and handled 20 million cigarette packs of all types.

Proposing to increase tax rate for cigarettes to the highest rate VCN- It is necessary to increase Special Consumption Tax for cigarettes to reduce the consumption for this ...

However, the cigar smuggling and illegal transportation have complicatedly taken place and tended to increase in big cities and key provinces.

Notably, the competent forces in Hanoi and the GDVC have detected and arrested two cases of cigar smuggling and illegal transportation and seized more than 42,000 cigarettes of all types.