­Customs detects trick of remodeling smuggled cars as domestically produced cars

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One of two cars that was remodeled seized by Dong Thap Custom in November 2021. Photo: N.T

Remodel color and license plate for trading

Dong Thap Police has issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case of forging seals and documents issued by competent agencies to investigate two cars without origin detected by Dong Thap Customs.

The case was handled by Dong Thap Customs Department at the end of 2021. According to the local customs department, the Customs Enforcement Team under the department discovered two five-seater cars with suspicious signs without origin certificates in Binh Phu commune, Tan Hong district. The Team made Plan No. 39/KH-DKS to coordinate with the local police to inspect these cars.

Through an inspection, the Customs and Police authorities detected a red CAMRY LE with License Plate 66A-157.80 at an auto garage in Cong Tao hamlet, Binh Phu commune, Tan Hong district. The authorities discovered that the car’s engine was removed. The garage owner said that this car is owned by Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, 29 (Sa Rai town, Tan Hong district). Thanh asked him to repair it.

At the request of Customs, Mr. Thanh presented the certificate of registration No. 66 004452 issued by the Traffic Police Department of Dong Thap Public Security on November 12, 2021, showing that the car owner is Le Van An, 39, (address 136, Tan Banh, Tan Phuoc, Tan Hong); brand TOYOTA, type CAMRY, paint color: silver, plate number: 66A-157.80.

The working team noticed suspicious signs and made a record, requesting the be brought car to the Customs’ headquarters to identify and investigate. The Customs Enforcement Team conducted an inspection to determine that the car originated in the US, made in 2014; original color was silver (repainted red by the owner). The current quality of the car is 80% compared to a new car of the same type.

Working with Customs, Mr. Le Van An said that he bought the car for VND550 million from Mr. Le Quoc Thanh. He paid a deposit of VND200 million and would pay the rest after finishing the procedures for transferring the name on the certificate of registration. However, Mr. An did not have enough money to pay, so Mr. Thanh did not deliver the car and papers to Mr. An.

Showing signs of forging documents

In addition, the Team detected that Mr. Le Van An was named the owner of the car with license plate 66A-159.28; engine number: 2AR0072213, chassis number: 4T4BF3EK8AR013092.

According to the registration dossier provided by the Traffic Police Department of Ca Mau Provincial Police showed that on April 16, 2021, Mr. Phan Boi Hen, located in ward 9, Ca Mau city, carried out vehicle registration procedures at the local Traffic Police Department. The dossier included a Value Added Invoice issued by TOYOTA Ly Thuong Kiet Co., Ltd (in HCM City) for sale to Mr. Phan Boi Hen for a price of VND1,287 billion; quality control inspection form No. K1E16428 dated March 10, 2021. The car was then issued with License Plate No.69A-096.33.

The investigation by the Customs showed that the two cars were traded illegally with suspicious signs of forging documents and seals of competent agencies. The verification results showed that Mr. Phan Boi Hen is a photocopying service provider in Ca Mau city.

Hien said in February 2021, Mr. Long in Can Tho used his identity card to make a certificate of registration for a price of VND500,000. At Mr. Long's request, Mr. Hen went to the notary's office to sign the contracts and power of attorney to sell two cars.

On May 10, 2021, Mr. Phan Boi Hen signed a contract to sell the car with License Plate No. 69A-096.31 to Mr. Vo Minh Phuong (address in Long My, Hau Giang).

On April 23, 2021, Mr. Hen signed a contract to sell the car with License Plate 69A-096.33 to Mr. Le Quoc Thanh (address in Tan Hong, Dong Thap).

On May 10, 2021, Mr. Thanh signed a contract to sell this car to Mr. Hen.

On May 24, 2021, Mr. Hen signed a power of attorney for Mr. Bui Xuan Kiet (in Tan Thanh B commune, Tan Hong, Dong Thap) to have full decision-making power for this car.

Mr. Hen said he only signed the sales and authorization contracts and did not sign any other documents to register the cars and know the characteristics of these cars.

The Team verified two value-added invoices issued by Toyota Ly Thuong Kiet Co., Ltd. As a result, the auto company confirmed that the two invoices were not issued by the company.

The Team also detected that the two Quality control inspection forms were not issued by the auto company and this company also did not manufacture, assemble or import these cars.

Based on the inspection results of the competent authorities and the responses of Toyota Motor Vietnam, Toyota Ly Thuong Kiet Co., Ltd., the Customs Enforcement Team recognized that the two cars with License Plates No.66A.157.80 and 66A-159.28 named by Mr. Le Van An, showed signs of smuggling and forging documents of domestically produced and assembled cars, and making fake invoices of Toyota Ly Thuong Kiet Co., Ltd. to carry out circulation registration procedures.

The case has violated Article 341 and Article 188 of the Penal Code 2015 amended and supplemented in 2017 for forging seals and documents, using fake seals or documents of agencies and organizations, and smuggling.