Vietnam Customs attends briefing of Operation Mekong Dragon Campaign V

VCN - The briefing of Operation Mekong Dragon V took place from April 11 to 13, 2023, in Shanghai (China) with the participation of more than 60 delegates from Customs and police agencies of member countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, RILO AP Office, UNODC, Environmental Control Board of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and international organizations TRAFFIC, and IFAW.
Customs’ Operation Mekong Dragon initiative included in Vietnam-China joint statement Customs’ Operation Mekong Dragon initiative included in Vietnam-China joint statement
22 Customs administrations in Asia-Pacific continue to carry out Operation Mekong Dragon 22 Customs administrations in Asia-Pacific continue to carry out Operation Mekong Dragon
More than 100 pieces of information about anti-smuggling processed through international cooperation More than 100 pieces of information about anti-smuggling processed through international cooperation
Delegates attend the briefing.
Delegates attend the briefing.

Substantive cooperation

As assigned by the General Department of Customs, representatives of leaders of the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Customs) attended the conference.

Within the framework of the briefing, Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (Vietnam Customs) Vu Quang Toan and Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling Department (China Customs) Vuong Hoa had a bilateral working session to unify key contents in the cooperation of two customs administrations in anti-smuggling based on the orientation mentioned in the joint statement announced from the official visit to the People's Republic of China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong from October 30 to November 1, 2022.

At the opening session, all guests appreciated the meaning and role of the Operation Mekong Dragon Campaign, thereby creating a practical cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region in the fight against drugs and wildlife and security and safety, and environmental protection.

Jenna Dawson Faber, Regional Coordinator, Global Programmes on Crimes that Affect the Environment at UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, said, "The campaign is symbolic and has come a long way in cooperation between the Customs administration and law enforcement agencies to combat drug and CITES-listed wildlife trafficking jointly.

She emphasized that the illegal trade in wildlife, timber, drugs, and precursors is a major global problem, including in Asia and the Pacific. This activity has generated huge profits for organized crime networks, fueled violence, and threatened the environment and public health. Therefore, it is very important to work together to combat these crimes.

According to Ms Jenna Dawson Faber, Operation Mekong Dragon is an example of international cooperation. Over the years, the campaign has made significant progress in cracking down on many drug and CITES-listed wildlife trafficking cases.

Expand to phase V

Mr Cheon Jeong Park, Chief of Office of RILO AP, said: Phase 4 in 2022 recorded the highest number of participants ever, with 29 members.

This shows that drug and wildlife trafficking is one of the main concerns of member countries and territories. Especially, in more than two years of the pandemic (Covid-19), the drug market and the drug trafficking scale did not decrease. In addition, there have been many tricks to smuggle endangered species of animals. Therefore, it is required that Customs administrations continue to actively fight against cross-border trade in endangered species for environmental sustainability.

The briefing.
The briefing.

Mr Vuong Hoa, Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling Department (China Customs), said that thanks to the joint efforts of the parties involved in the campaign, the number of participants and the number of seizures achieved high results and the campaign's international reputation is expanding. Operation Mekong Dragon is a leading project on customs law enforcement cooperation in the region by all parties, contributing to ensuring customs administrations have appreciated regional security and the campaign.

According to Mr Vuong Hoa, the challenges of drug crime and the environment cannot be effectively solved by the strength of a single country or region or the capacity of a law enforcement agency. Therefore, international law enforcement cooperation and inter-agency cooperation are a must.

Speaking at the briefing, Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (Vietnam Customs) Vu Quang Toan said that Operation Mekong Dragon had achieved great success with increasing participation, building certain reputations in combat against smuggling of endangered wild fauna and flora on the list of CITES, drugs and transnational crime.

Mr Vu Quang Toan said that member Customs administrations and law enforcement agencies continue to work together to improve the efficiency of seizing and destroying criminal rings.

At the brief, the delegates jointly evaluated the achievements in the implementation chain from Phase I to Phase IV and agreed on the Mekong Dragon Campaign V implementation plan in 2023.

Operation Mekong Dragon co-initiated by Vietnam Customs and China Customs, was launched in September 2018 and received great technical support from the UNODC's office and the RILO AP Office of the World Customs Organization (WCO) as well as the consent of the Customs administrations of six countries in the Mekong sub-region.

Up to phase IV, the campaign has 29 law enforcement agencies in the region and phase IV has expanded to include some African countries.

By Thai Binh/ Huyen Trang

Related News

WCO Permanent Technical Committee Meeting in Belgium: The managerial mark of the Vietnamese customs representative

WCO Permanent Technical Committee Meeting in Belgium: The managerial mark of the Vietnamese customs representative

VCN - For 3 days (from 23-25/10/2024), at the headquarters of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels (Belgium), the 245th/246th meeting of the Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) was successfully held under the chairmanship of Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Hoai, Counselor, Embassy of Vietnam in Belgium, representative of Vietnam Customs, Chairwoman of PTC.
Revamping commodity management and trade protection

Revamping commodity management and trade protection

VCN - Completing commodity management policies combined with applying trade defense measures plays an important role in protecting the interests of businesses and the Vietnamese economy. Close coordination between management agencies not only helps prevent trade fraud but also creates favorable conditions for exporting businesses, minimizing risks from anti-dumping lawsuits.
Businesses get a fair hearing under Customs

Businesses get a fair hearing under Customs' new 'three no' rule

VCN - The General Department of Vietnam Customs requires units to implement the 3 no principles: "don't say no, don't say difficult, and don't say yes but don't do it" when businesses have recommendations and proposals.
Bilateral meeting between Deputy Director General Au Anh Tuan and the UAE Ambassador

Bilateral meeting between Deputy Director General Au Anh Tuan and the UAE Ambassador

VCN - On the morning of October 17, 2024, Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs Au Anh Tuan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Vietnam Bader Almatrooshi.

Latest News

3 items have a big impact on the budget revenue of Ho Chi Minh City Customs

3 items have a big impact on the budget revenue of Ho Chi Minh City Customs

VCN - Automobiles, petroleum, and steel are three items that account for nearly 35% of the total state budget revenue of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department. Therefore, fluctuations in these revenue sources will greatly impact the state budget revenue of the entire Department.
Quang Ninh Customs collects 85.75% of the budget revenue through the seaport area

Quang Ninh Customs collects 85.75% of the budget revenue through the seaport area

VCN - In the first 9 months of 2024, Quang Ninh Customs Department collected VND 13,885.23 billion in revenue collection, reaching 111.08% of the assigned estimate (VND 12,500 billion), reaching 106.81% of the target assigned by Quang Ninh province (VND 13,000 billion), an increase of 8.67% over the same period in 2023
Regulating goods across Huu Nghi International Border Gate during peak times

Regulating goods across Huu Nghi International Border Gate during peak times

VCN – In order to reduce the pressure on customs clearance of import and export goods for the international border gate pair during peak times, the management agency of Lang Son (Vietnam) has just discussed with the management authority of Pingxiang (China) to strengthen coordination in regulating the means of transporting goods of enterprises on both sides.
Kien Giang Customs’ revenue reaches over 190% of target

Kien Giang Customs’ revenue reaches over 190% of target

VCN – As of October 15, Kien Giang Customs Department collected VND 116.34 billion, reaching 193.89% of the target, the department reports.

More News

Quang Ninh Customs seeks solutions to promote import and export

Quang Ninh Customs seeks solutions to promote import and export

VCN - Quang Ninh Customs Department has made efforts to synchronously deploy solutions to accompany, support and resolve difficulties for businesses, contributing to improving import and export activities through the area.
Khanh Hoa Customs reaches revenue target 1 quarter early

Khanh Hoa Customs reaches revenue target 1 quarter early

VCN - Many key import items increased sharply, along with efforts in trade facilitation, tax debt collection, so in just 9 months of 2024, Khanh Hoa Customs Department completed the state budget revenue target.
Revise regulations on implementing administrative procedures under the National Single Window

Revise regulations on implementing administrative procedures under the National Single Window

VCN - On October 29, 2024, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Au Anh Tuan chaired a meeting to discuss, exchange and develop a plan to amend Decree 85/2019/ND-CP regulating the implementation of administrative procedures under the National Single Window, ASEAN Single Window and specialized inspection of imports and exports.
Launch of the “Proud of 80 years of construction and development of Vietnam Customs” contest

Launch of the “Proud of 80 years of construction and development of Vietnam Customs” contest

VCN - Towards the 80th anniversary of Vietnam Customs' tradition (September 10, 1945 - September 10, 2025), the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) launches the “Proud of 80 years of construction and development of Vietnam Customs” contest.
Cat Lai Port sees over 1,000 export shipments cleared by customs each day

Cat Lai Port sees over 1,000 export shipments cleared by customs each day

VCN - The volume of goods exported through Cat Lai port is showing signs of increasing sharply in the last months of 2024.
Quang Ninh Customs: Innovation in developing Customs-Business partnership

Quang Ninh Customs: Innovation in developing Customs-Business partnership

VCN - Quang Ninh Customs Department is determined to improve the quality of Customs-Business partnership, with practical actions in supporting and accompanying businesses.
Nine Customs brokers may be suspended from operations

Nine Customs brokers may be suspended from operations

VCN – HCM City Customs Department has announced that nine HCM City-based customs brokers may be suspended from operations because they have not reported their operations for three consecutive periods.
HCM City Customs held a dialogue and supported on training FDI enterprises

HCM City Customs held a dialogue and supported on training FDI enterprises

VCN - In order to improve the effectiveness of cooperation and support for foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises, the HCM City Customs Department has proactively coordinated with business associations to organize dialogue conferences and in-depth training programs on import-export regulations, customs procedures, and solutions to help enterprises overcome legal challenges during their operations in Vietnam.
Customs handles a daily trade volume of over US$2 billion

Customs handles a daily trade volume of over US$2 billion

VCN - With the increasing scale of import and export turnover, currently the Customs sector handles procedures for import and export goods with a turnover of more than US$2 billion per day on average.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
3 items have a big impact on the budget revenue of Ho Chi Minh City Customs

3 items have a big impact on the budget revenue of Ho Chi Minh City Customs

VCN - Automobiles, petroleum, and steel are three items that account for nearly 35% of the total state budget revenue of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department. Therefore, fluctuations in these revenue sources will greatly impact the state budget revenue of
Quang Ninh Customs collects 85.75% of the budget revenue through the seaport area

Quang Ninh Customs collects 85.75% of the budget revenue through the seaport area

In the first 9 months of 2024, Quang Ninh Customs Department collected VND 13,885.23 billion in revenue collection
Regulating goods across Huu Nghi International Border Gate during peak times

Regulating goods across Huu Nghi International Border Gate during peak times

VCN - Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan International Border Gate pair, as an important traffic route connecting the two countries, with a large volume of trade, plays an active role in promoting economic development of both sides.
Kien Giang Customs’ revenue reaches over 190% of target

Kien Giang Customs’ revenue reaches over 190% of target

VCN - As of October 15, Kien Giang Customs Department processes customs procedures with total import and export turnover of over US$299 million.
Quang Ninh Customs seeks solutions to promote import and export

Quang Ninh Customs seeks solutions to promote import and export

Quang Ninh Customs Department has made efforts to synchronously deploy solutions to accompany, support and resolve difficulties for businesses, contributing to improving import and export activities through the area.
Mobile Version