Introducing port control unit under Danang Customs Department

Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Viet Cuong, Coordinator of Container Control Program (CCP) in South East Asia area and leader of Danang Customs Department cut ribbon officially introducing Danang Port Unit Group. Photo: Nguyễn Sơn

This activity is within the framework of the Container Control Program between the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the UNDOC.

Attending the launching ceremony was Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Viet Cuong; Mr. Mark Stanley, Coordinator of Container Control Program (CCP) in South East Asia area and representatives from related organizations.

The Container Control Program (CCP) is part of Sub-program 1 “Transnational Organized Crime and Illegal Trafficking” of UNODC in the period 2012-2017. The CCP is a joint initiative between UNODC and the World Customs Organization (WCO), which aims to assist governments in strengthening the capacity of law enforcement in order to improve the effectiveness of container control at seaports, to reduce the risk of transnational organized crime taking advantage of transporting containers via seaway for illegally transporting narcotics, wildlife, weapons,… to combat organized transnational crime and other forms of illegal market activity.

CCP is a program that has been successfully implemented in more than 58 countries around the world. Within the program framework, nearly 90 units of Port Control Units (PCUs) have been established in Africa (Kenya, Morocco, Ghana,...), America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile,...), Middle East (Egypt, Iran,...), Asia (India, Bangladesh) and recently expanded to Southeast Asia area, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

In Vietnam, under the approval of the Government, the Ministry of Finance (General Department of Vietnam Customs) joined the Container Control Program in 2/2015. Currently, the CCP has been deployed at Hai Phong Customs Department from 3/2015 and at Ba Ria-Vung Tau Customs Department from 5/2017.

The effectiveness of implementing the CCP at Hai Phong Customs Department and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Customs Department, the Port Control Unit of the Da Nang Customs Department was established with the members who are customs officials of Danang Customs Department.

The Port Control Unit of Danang Customs Department is set up under the model of the work unit that applies advanced risk management measures combined with anti-smuggling control activities. It aims to improve the efficiency of container control works at seaports in Da Nang City. The group has the task of receiving, processing information and implementing port control measures in order to prevent and combat crimes of smuggling and illegal transportation of prohibited goods in the seaports of Da Nang City. The key items are narcotics, wildlife, weapons, double purpose goods, the list of prohibited goods for import and export...

The Port Control Unit of the Danang Customs Department together with the Port Control Units established at Hai Phong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau Customs Departments, and with the upcoming Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, will contribute to the effective implementation of cargo inspection and supervision of transported containers, step by step improving the investment environment and raising the competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises.

It is known that, before the launching ceremony of the Danang Port Control Unit, a meeting was held to review the activities of the Port Control Unit of Hai Phong Customs Department and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Customs Department, and discussed on the future deployment.