Vietnam Customs proactively launch Mekong Dragon Campaign phase 7

Hai Phong Customs Department chaired and coordinated with competent forces to detect and arrest the case of smuggled ivory disguised in containers of farmed cow horns (February 2023). Photo: T.Bình

On June 4th, General Department of Vietnam Customs issued documents to mandate local customs department to continue implementing Mekong Dragon Campaign Phase VI.

According to the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, implementing the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang in Official Dispatch No. 3438/VPCP-QHQT dated May 20, 2024, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has the following information to share: “The Mekong Dragon Campaign is a joint initiative of Vietnam Customs and China Customs, coordinated by the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO A/P-WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The Mekong Dragon Campaign operates on the mechanism of sharing customs control information (hot information and arrest information) through the use of the World Customs Organization's secure information tool (CENComm) and the designated contact point system.The Mekong Dragon Campaign was officially launched in 2018 and has been implemented through 5 phases with remarkable successes.

In its role as a co-initiating country, Vietnam Customs has actively participated in the Mekong Dragon Campaign Coordination Group with China Customs, RILO A/P-WCO and UNODC.

During the past period, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has received the active and effective cooperation of units under the General Department and coordinating units in implementing the contents of the Mekong Dragon Campaign Phases IV and V.

On the basis of the successful results of the Mekong Dragon Campaign in previous phases and the Vietnam-China Joint Statement in December 2023, in Point (3), Section 4.3, the two sides agreed on trade contents, including the content "...continue to deepen cooperation on law enforcement against smuggling, promote the international law enforcement coordination action "Mekong Dragon" to achieve even greater results".

The Mekong Dragon Campaign Coordination Group has agreed to continue implementing the Mekong Dragon Campaign Phase VI on customs cooperation in the fight against drugs; transporting wild animals and plants and products from wild animals and plants on the CITES List in the Asia-Pacific region. The Mekong Dragon Campaign VI will take place from April 15, 2024 to September 16, 2024.

In order to demonstrate the active role of the co-initiating, co-coordinating and implementing country in the successful implementation of the Mekong Dragon Campaign VI, General Department of Vietnam Customs requires units to focus on implementing the activities of the Campaign, specifically as follows:

Regarding the implementation of the Mekong Dragon Campaign VI, firstly, raise awareness, and assign tasks to units under and directly under the authority to effectively implement the campaign.

Secondly, strengthening the collection of information on the situation, methods, and tricks of smuggling, illegal transport of drugs and wild animals and plants to analyze risks, identify key points, and issue risk warnings to serve the work of customs inspection, supervision, and control effectively. Furthermore, strengthening control and inspection of goods, records, and documents for suspicious shipments. If any signs of violations are detected, apply necessary measures to detect, arrest, and handle them in accordance with regulations.

Thirdly, be proactive and coordinate with competent forces, especially the police, border guards, ... to effectively combat cases of illegal buying and selling, transporting drugs and wild animals and plants.

Fourthly, participating in capacity building, coordination and information exchange programs.

At the same time, the General Department of Vietnam Customs assigns the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department to take the lead in advising and coordinating technical matters during the implementation of the Campaign, perform tasks including take the lead in coordinating with relevant coordinating agencies to implement the Mekong Dragon Campaign VI according to the action plan; guide and urge relevant units to participate in the Campaign; receive and forward warning information (hot information); update case of drug and wildlife seizure; monitor and urge the update of seizures by national focal points on the system.

Furthermore, synthesize information, exchange contact, coordinate to build newsletters, warnings about the situation, trends, methods, and tricks of hiding, transporting drugs and wildlife; and coordinate to build Campaign reports.

At the same time, take the lead in coordinating with units inside and outside the industry to investigate, verify, and arrest cases of illegal buying and selling, transporting drugs and wild animals and plants; assign 1 Head of Department to participate in the Campaign Coordination Group, three national focal points ...

Customs Departments of provinces and cities assign 1 focal point with English language proficiency and experience in customs control to directly participate in the implementation of the Campaign.