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The Customs Enforcement Team No.1 seizes infringing goods. Photo: Quang Hung

Smuggled goods transported via seaway instead of land

As the Standing agency of 389 Steering Committee of Mong Cai city, the Customs Enforcement Team No.1 (under Quang Ninh Customs Department) has actively grasped situation and followed leaders' directions to advise for issuing documents, programs and plans to effectively perform tasks.

This helps the team's member units effectively and regularly perform their tasks and prevent sites from gathering and storing smuggled goods with a large value.

The team's performance results show that in 2022, smugglers abused preferential customs policies for frauds in quantity, category, origin, customs value and tax rate to profiteering. They also have hidden intellectual property infringing goods with the normal goods to transport to the domestic market, especially for consumer goods. Furthermore, the land border routes have been strictly controlled, so the smugglers have transported smuggled goods by sea. In addition, they have used high-speed boats to illegally transport goods across border gates.

In 2022, the team destroyed many infringing goods, such as children's toys, cosmetics and consumer goods. Notably, many foods and ingredients of unknown origin are stored in the team's warehouse.

On December 20, the team arrested a suspect who illegally transported goods across the customs control area and seized 1,800 boxes of kid toys.

On December 21, the team arrested a suspect who illegally transported 473 pairs of shoes, sandals and 4,300 pairs of socks.

Closely controlling area

During this time, officers of the Customs Enforcement Team No.1 have launched a peaking plan for fighting against smuggling, counterfeit goods, and illegal transportation of goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2023.

The team has identified that preventing and handling law violations contributed to maintaining security at border gates.

The Chinese government has resumed customs clearance for goods and passengers at border gates and checkpoints in the city since January 8, 2023. Accordingly, the Customs force has faced challenges, especially during the Lunar New Year.

The team's leader said that the close control in the area and effective handling of smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of goods across the border gates have contributed to making the market transparent and maintaining security in the area, and increasing the State revenue.

Accordingly, the leaders of teams and working teams have strengthened direction in the task performance based on the principle of specific officer, specific work and specific responsibility; requested officers not to ignore and support smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across border gates, causing negative activities in working performance.

The director also required units to take measures to strictly control the area and prevent the transportation of smuggled goods across the customs control area. Coordinate with local government and member units of 389 Steering Committee of Mong Cai city.