Violations in the import of scrap: How many people have been prosecuted, arrested?

	Specifying the import quota for scraps
	Hai Phong Customs stopped 130 containers of scrap import to Vietnam
	Discover 25 containers of scraps imported to Cat Lai port

Imported discarded materials were discovered and seized at Hai Phong port. Picture: Ngoc Linh.

Licensing import of scrap materials for non-factory businesses

Exchanging with reporters of Customs Newspaper, representatives of the Criminal Investigation Team - Team 7 (Department of Anti-smuggling and Investigation, General Department of Customs) said, related to violations in the import of scrap, from the investigations of the customs office, the police force prosecuted, arrested 10 people.

In particular, the Police Investigation Agency (Ministry of Public Security) arrested and prosecuted 6 people. Specifically, on 28/8/2018, 4 subjects were prosecuted, detained, including: Duc Dat Import – Export Company (Dong Mai village, Khanh Hai commune, Yen Khanh district, Ninh Binh, referred to as Cong Duc Dat); Nguyen Van Son - Director of Truong Thinh Private Enterprise (Khanh Hai Commune, Yen Khanh District, Ninh Binh Province, referred to Truong Thinh Private Enterprise); Duong Van Phuong - staff of Truong Thinh Private Enterprise; Duong Tuan Anh - Managing Director of Hong Viet Construction Services Trading Company Limited (referred to Hong Viet Company).

The four persons were charged with the crime of “illegally transporting goods across borders”.

The prosecution of the above subjects is carried out from the investigation results of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Customs) and the Police Investigation Agency (Ministry of Public Security). According to the survey results, there is enough proof for determination, that Truong Thinh Private Enterprise and Hong Viet Company had signs of counterfeiting papers and documents to import illegal scrap into Vietnam. On August 28, 2018, the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department issued decisions to prosecute criminal cases on “illegal transporting goods across the border” that occurred at Hong Viet Company and at Truong Thinh Private Enterprise.

Previously, on July 17, 2018, the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case on “illegal transporting goods across the border", which occurred at Duc Dat Company.

Notably, with regard to the widening investigation of the case at Hong Viet Company, on 3 November 2018, the Investigative Police Agency (Ministry of Public Security) issued a decision to prosecute and arrested two defendants including Doan Van Phuc - former deputy director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ben Tre province (currently Vice Chairman of Ben Tre Farmers Association) and Truong Van Em, Director of Ben Tre Sub-Department of Environmental Protection on “misuse of position and authority while performing public duties”.

Initial investigation results show that: January 12, 2015, Ben Tre Department of Natural Resources and Environment granted certificates of eligibility for import of waste materials No. 6 /CN-STNT for Hong Viet Company. But the company has no factories, machinery, production lines for recycling scrap in accordance with the law. From November 2015 to February 2017, the company took advantage of the certificate of eligibility for import of scrap and 76 Notices of imported scrap shipments granted by Ben Tre Natural Resources and Environment Department to illegally import more than 5,000 containers of scrap into Vietnam.

Siblings sin together

In addition to the 6 defendants arrested by the Police Investigation Agency (the Ministry of Public Security), 4 other suspects have been prosecuted by the Police Investigation Agency (the Hai Phong Police) for violation in the import of scrap.

Specifically, on September 12, 2018, Mr. Nguyen Tien Loc, head of the Hai Phong Customs Department signed the Decision No. 2525/QD-HQHP and the Decision No. 2526/QD-HQHP to prosecute criminal cases on “illegally transporting goods across borders” of Huong Quynh Cam Hung Co., Ltd, and DFG Joint Stock Company (all located in Hai Duong province), and transfer the case file to the Investigation Police of Hai Phong) for continuing to investigate according to regulations.

After the verification, the Investigation Police Department (Hai Phong Police) identified a group of people who acted for counterfeiting of documents to illegally import 10,567 tons of waste plastic, dirty waste, worth more than 11 billion VND. In particular, Nguyen Ngoc Hieu - Director of Ha Nam Trade Service Co., Ltd, (born in 1974, Dang Lam ward, Hai An district, Hai Phong) and Nguyen Ba Toan (born in 1992, An Dong commune, An Duong district, Hai Phong) were involved.

On November 15, 2018, the Police Investigation Agency (Hai Phong Police) issued a decision to prosecute and arrested Nguyen Ngoc Hieu and Nguyen Ba Toan.

In the development, on July 17, 2018, the Police Investigation Agency (Hai Phong Police) issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case related to Duc Dat Company due to violations in “illegal transport of goods across borders”. The prosecution of the case was conducted with the import declaration of goods carried out by the Company at the Hai Phong Customs Department. Previously, after the process of verification and reinforcement of records of violations of the Company, Hai Phong Customs Department transferred files and documents to the Investigation Police (Hai Phong Police) to investigate, prosecute in accordance with the law.

On September 10, 2018, the Police Department (Police of Hai Phong) issued a decision to prosecute and arrested Nguyen Duc Truong- Director of Duc Dat Company and Duong Van Phuong- Duc Dat Company staff for “illegally transporting goods across borders”. These two subjects were prosecuted and detained by the Police Investigation Agency (Ministry of Public Security).

Notably, Duong Van Phuong was prosecuted by the Police Investigation Agency (Ministry of Public Security), detained as a staff member of Truong Thinh Private Enterprise, but in a case investigated by the Police Agency (Hai Phong police) prosecution, Phuong is also a staff member of Duc Dat Import Export Service Co., Ltd.

A member of Team 7 said that the investigation revealed that Phuong actually works for both Truong Thinh and Duc Dat.

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In widening the investigation of the case at Duc Dat Company, on October 8, 2018, the Investigation Police (Hai Phong Police) prosecuted and arrested Le Anh Dung (Dong Hoa village, Hoa Dung Commune, Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong) -Managing Director of Son Dung Import-Export Co., Ltd, (Dong Hoa Village, Hoa Dong Commune, Thuy Nguyen District) and Tran Quang Long (Ho Village, An Lu Commune, Thuy District) Nguyen, Hai Phong) - staff of Son Dung Production and Import-Export Co., Ltd, for “illegal transporting goods across borders”.

The cases mentioned above and a number of cases showing signs of violation on import scrap are being investigated by the functional forces.