Hai Phong Customs prevent smuggling by sea at the end of 2020

Ivory was seized byt Hai Phong Customs in the peak period of Tet holiday 2020. Photo: T.Bình

Commenting on the smuggling and illegal transport of goods across borders in the area, a representative of Hai Phong Customs Department said that the demand for using electrical equipment, electronic devices, refrigeration and consumer goods is still high. Hence, there is potential for smuggling, commercial fraud, and illegal transport of goods cross-border via sea. Along with that is many potential risks of fraudulent origin; illegally transporting and trading of wild flora and fauna.

Regarding key routes and sea routes from Chinese ports to Hai Phong port area have typical infringing goods of labels and origin such as footwear, machinery and equipment, used consumer goods and clothes.

The route originating from African countries (such as Nigeria, Kenya, Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe) often has a complicated route through many countries and transshipped through many international seaports. Infringing goods are mainly related to wild flora and fauna products.

Meanwhile, foreign alcohol, cigarettes, cosmetics, electronics, supplementary foods have come from transit ports such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea.

Notably, the road from Hai Phong to Mong Cai international border gate (Quang Ninh) has the risk of violation in transporting pangolin scales, ivory, heroin (the direction from Hai Phong to Mong Cai to transport to China). In the opposite direction, there are alcohol, cigarettes, meth, firecrackers of all kinds and dangerous toys.

The key areas identified by Hai Phong Customs are areas of warehouses, yards, ports, and import and export inspection areas; boat mooring areas; transshipment areas, areas for taking goods alongside ships; coastal areas are capable of gathering and transporting contraband and banned goods (Ben Got, Pa Lang lamp, Lan Ha, Cua Dua, Bach Dang, Lach Huyen).

From the beginning of 2020 to the end of November, Hai Phong Customs Department chaired and coordinated with competent authorities to detect and handle many cases of smuggling and illegal transport of goods with great value such as ores and automobiles, cigarettes, household appliances, machinery. Hai Phong Customs Department has prosecuted 12 violation cases and transferred to the investigation police agency (Hai Phong City Police) to propose to prosecute seven cases.

Besides that, the unit handled 4,173 cases of administrative violations. The violations are mainly making late declarations and submission dossiers, without permits, goods are ineligible for import, no declaration or declaring incorrectly name of goods.

Facing this situation, Hai Phong Customs Department has directed the units to synchronously and drastically implement professional customs inspection, supervision and control measures. Developing a key plan to improve the effectiveness of anti-smuggling, illegal transport of goods cross-border. Therefore, the control, anti-smuggling and handling of violations in the field of customs in the management area have achieved remarkable results.

Hai Phong Customs Department determined to continue to focus on increasing control of key products such as alcohol, cigarettes, cosmetics, used electronic goods and machinery, wildlife products, and goods infringing trademark and origin.