Lang Son Customs collects about VND4 billion from administrative fines

Officers of Lang Son Customs Department inspect goods.

According to Lang Son Customs Department, in the first six months of the year, the smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of goods across border gates declined.

Authorities at Chinese border gates have taken measures to strictly control the Covid-19 pandemic and import and export of goods, causing difficulties for import and export activities.

Regarding customs control, the Customs force has controlled the smuggling, illegal transportation of goods across border gates and prevented violations with a high value.

Between February and March, Covid-19 infections increased in the province, leading to a shortage of medical equipment, especially Covid-19 rapid test kits. The smuggling and illegal transportation of Covid-19 rapid test kits have occurred at some border gates.

Deputy Director of Lang Son Customs Department Vu Tuan Binh said some smugglers abused the e-customs process, goods classified into Green and Yellow Channels for false declaration of name, quantity, code, origin of goods; took advantage of express delivery and postal services, e-commerce to commit trade fraud.

The local department directed the Customs Enforcement Team, border gate customs branches to strengthen patrol and control to prevent and handle trafficking of goods across the border gate. The department required units to focus on inspecting banned goods, goods affecting security and order, social safety, counterfeit goods, low-quality goods, goods infringing intellectual property, and Covid-19 prevention and control products.

The customs units were required to expedite information collection and coordinate with local agencies to inspect and control the area, and closely supervise imports and exports across the border to prevent and handle organizations and individuals that commit smuggling, commercial fraud, origin fraud, and illicit transportation of goods across the border.

The customs units have regularly gathered information on enterprises, individuals and imports and exports, commodity groups with high risk on customs value, high tax rate, conditional import and export, goods registered for intellectual property rights and high-risk businesses.

In the first six months of the year, Lang Son Customs Department handled 740 violations, with an estimated value of infringing goods of about VND27 billion, a decrease of 20.85% in the number of violations and 20.10% in the value of infringing goods compared with the same period in 2021. Of which, seven violations are on customs control valued at VND327,265 million; 729 other violations worth over VND25.9 billion; four cases on infringement of intellectual property worth VND513 million.

The department issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case for illegally transporting goods cross the border, issued a decision on administrative fines for 731 cases and paid about VND4 billion to the State budget.

The Department has coordinated with the Border Guard to handle two cases of trafficking goods across the border and seized 1,150 Covid-19 test kits, worth VND40.2 million and 900 packs of cigarettes used for electronic pipes, worth VND35.2 million; collaborated with the police force to deal with one case with one suspect and seized 0.2 grams of heroin.

The border-gate customs units scanned 2,111 containers (about 15 containers/day), thereby identifying 59 suspected cases, detecting four violations, collecting tax amounts arrears worth VND101.8 million, and imposed fines worth VND88.9 million.

It is forecast that when the Covid-19 pandemic is basically under control, the Chinese government releases measures for imports and exports, the demand for importing raw materials for production increases after a long time of being suspended, and the exit and entry across the border gate is eased. Therefore, there will be the risk of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods.

The local department directed its subordinate units to make appropriate plans and provide solutions to perform customs control and supervision for imports and exports, and border crossings.

Especially, units were required to encourage enterprises to comply with the customs law and denounce crimes; not participate in trafficking and supporting smugglers to illegally transport goods across the border.