In the 1st quarter: Customs sector has prosecuted 10 smuggling cases

Infringing goods were seized by Customs forces at the end of 2017. Photo: Q.Hùng

At the online General Department of Vietnam Customs quarterly meeting for reviewing work in quarter 1 and launching working tasks in quarter 2 of 2018, Deputy Director of Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department – Nguyen Van Tho said that, in the first quarter of 2018 (from 16/12/2017 to 15/3/2018), Customs sector has detected, seized and handled 3,232 cases of violating Customs Law ( increased by 2.7% over the same period in 2017); the total value of infringing goods is estimated to be over 85 billion VND (increased by 28.86% over the same period in 2017). The amount of fine that contributed to state revenue is 44.5 billion (increased by 32.86% over the same period in 2017).

Apart from narcotics, the whole sector has presided and coordinated with other competent forces to arrest 35 cases and seized 7 bars and 3,068 grams of heroin; 9,102 tablets and 39 gram of synthetic narcotics; 1,000 grams of meth; 5,100 grams of drugs; 11.612 kg of cannabis; 40 kg of opium tree; 3,800 kg of precursor substance.

In particular, the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department has coordinated and arrested 52 cases of customs law violation, the value of infringing goods is estimated as more than 25.7 billion VND, contributing to the state revenue with more than 1.7 billion VND; prosecuted 3 criminal cases. Advice to the leaders of the General Department on 6 decisions to handle administrative violations, the fine amount is 1.57 billion VND.

According to Nguyen Van Tho, in the first quarter of 2018, the situation of smuggling, trade fraud and illegal cross-border goods transportation in the first quarter of 2018 was complicated because in the period of New Year and Lunar New Year of 2018, the demand for goods consumption and production for Lunar New Year has increased.

The subjects of smuggling and illegal transport cross border use many sophisticated, risky and violent methods that incur at all levels: aviation, seaports, trails, border openings and roads. In particular, some key goods items have risen in the situation of illegal trade and transportation including high value, high tax rates, conditional import goods such as sugar, soft drinks, candy, beer and cigarettes, mobile phones, cosmetics, foreign currencies, Vietnamese currency, sawn timber, DO oil...

In addition, the customs enforcement forces have also detected and arrested a number of CITES-banned goods, food safety violations such as drugs, books with reactionary content, ivory elephant, pangolin scales, frozen meat ...

Particularly prominent is the situation of illegal transport of firecrackers and fireworks of all kinds across the border, for which violators have been arrested and seriously handled by the customs control forces according to the provisions of law.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tho also reported on the situation of tax evasion, intellectual property infringement, quality inspection goods are still complicated in some types of business entries, production, processing. For example, Minh Hien Co., Ltd (Ha Nam), imported 1200 tons of sugar for production, however, the company has brought the goods for domestic consumption, evading tax by 14 billion VND, the Customs authorities has prosecuted the case…

Prior to that situation, Nguyen Van Tho said, in the coming time, the Customs authorities will continue to deploy many solutions to enhance capacity and effectiveness in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, and transporting goods across borders illegally. Following the directions of the Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee 389 and the Ministry of Finance to perform the task.