Illicit food smuggling is “sophisticated”

	3 cars transporting goods without legal permits seized
	Handling violations related to temporary import and re-export of cars
	Shortcomings in handling smuggled crime

Customs officers of the Quang Tri Customs Department check illicit wine.

In provinces such as Lao Cai, Lang Son and Quang Ninh, the end of the year is considered to be a "working season" for perpetrators. Specifically, at Quang Ninh border area, due to an increase in the demand for goods in the last months of the year, perpetrators still use motorcycles to pass the Joint Control Station of Km 15 - Dan Tien Pier to collect smuggled goods at some points along Highway 18A from Km16 to Quang Nghia Commune for consumption in the domestic market. Many perpetrators directly involve in smuggling, or hire carriers to use their vehicles to illegally pass the Joint Control Station of Km 15 - Dan Tien Pier (the barrier against smuggling on Highway 18A from Mong Cai border area to the domestic market) on minor trails and crossings. In order to transport illicit goods effectively, some perpetrators often use hidden spaces in cargo compartments, passenger cars and trucks to deceive functional forces. On the other hand, many perpetrators arranged people to follow the operations of the anti-smuggling forces to fight against authorities, when they were detected transporting illicit goods.

According to the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee 389 of Quang Ninh, from the end of November 2016 to the first half of December 2016, the smuggling of confectionery, fresh food and frozen food has risen again. These activities often take place surreptitiously at border areas, which makes it difficult for the Control forces on the Highway 18A from Quang Yen to Quang Ninh. Notably, many smuggled Chinese candies seized had no certificate of origin and certificate of quality control, with eye-catching designs to attract children.

Typically, on 6th December 2016, in Quang Yen Town, the Market Management Team No. 11 (under the Quang Ninh Branch of Market Management) stopped to conduct physical inspections of a passenger car with the plate number 14B-02.044 by Ms. Nguyen Thi Vuot (a car owner residing in Thuy Nguyen, Hai Phong). Then, the functional forces detected 480kg of illicit Pokemon cakes and 414kg of illicit King cakes. The Market Management Team No. 11 issued a decision on administrative fine of 15 million vnd for Ms. Nguyen Thi Vuot and seized all violated goods.

Illegal transportation of goods has not only occurred openly at the border areas between China and Vietnam but at the border areas between Vietnam and Laos. Accordingly, the functional forces discovered and seized many illicit goods such as foreign wine, beer and white sugar without legal invoices, or vouchers of unidentified owners. In early December 2016, the Customs Control forces at Lao Bao Commercial Zone and Highway 9 successively detected and handled complicated cases related to smuggling. Typically, from 3rd December 2016 to 5th December 2016, the Customs Control forces at Lao Bao Commercial Zone detected and seized 3 cases with dozens of bottles of Chivas Regal whisky produced in Scotland; and 2,800kg of Thailand white sugar (with unidentified owners). Also at that time, the Customs Control forces detected and issued a Decision on administrative sanction for Mr. Nguyen Van Loi (living at Quarter 8, Ward 1, Dong Ha Ctiy, Quang Tri) for the sale of imported goods without legal documents in the operations of Customs. Then, Customs Control forces seized 60 barrels of Heineken beer (5 liters per barrel) made in France and 500kg of white sugar made in Thailand.

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In fact, the smuggling and illegal transportation of goods is quite complicated. Thus, the functional forces including the Police force, the Market Management force, the Customs force and the Border Guard force have focused on food materials and confectionery products, and wine, beer and cigarettes, especially during the Lunar holiday. Therefore, the National Steering Committee 389, the Ministries, Departments and localities have requested functional forces to strengthen operations against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting effectively from the border areas to the domestic market.