Continue to investigate and handle smuggling of medicines for Covid-19 treatment

Smuggled Covid-19 treatment medicines are discovered and seized. Photo: T.Bình.

On September 22, talking to Customs News, Head of the Northern Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Team Vu Quang Toan said that a number of parcels with signs of smuggling of medicines continued to be caught by the unit.

“Following the direction of the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, the unit continued to strengthen inspection, supervision and control of items related to Covid-19 treatment medicines, medical equipment and supplies for pandemic prevention and control," Toan said.

Regarding the handling of recently discovered cases, the Northern Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Unit is waiting for the results of the inspection from the authorities for exhibits, while carrying out professional measures to handle organizations and individuals violating the law.

On September 14, at a warehouse in Thach Loi village, Thanh Xuan commune, Soc Son, Hanoi, the Northern Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Unit chaired and coordinated with HCM City Customs Department, Hanoi Express Customs Branch (Hanoi Customs Department), Economic Police Department (C03, Ministry of Public Security) to check 15 packages with signs of violation.

On the bill of lading, the goods are shown as food, but in fact, the Customs force seized more than 60,000 pills used in Covid-19 treatment such as: Favipiravir Tablets 200 mg; Favipiravir Tablets Fabiflu 400 mg; Baricitinib; Molnupiravir Capsules

Previously, on August 27, the unit coordinated with Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch to conduct a physical inspection of four infringing consignments, detecting 180 sets of Covid-19 rapid test kits and 330 boxes of Arbidol – a product advertised as medicine for the treatment of Covid-19.

Regarding the illegal import of medicines for Covid-19 treatment, on August 17-18, at a warehouse in Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi, the Northern Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Unit chaired and collaborated with North Hanoi Customs Branch (Hanoi Customs Department) to inspect goods belonging to two declarations with suspicious signs.

As a result of inspection, Customs forces seized nearly 1,500 boxes of Favipiravir Tablets - anti-viral drugs manufactured in India, which were imported goods with conditions but at the time of inspection, there were no documents as prescribed.