Mong Cai: Smuggling of cigarettes and foreign wine still going on

Smuggled cosmetics were seized by Customs forces in Mong Cai city.

The value of goods increased by 36%

According to Steering Committee 389 of Mong Cai City, in the first five months of 2021, forces detected and handled 200 cases, worth more than VND 4.8 billion (an increase of 1.5% in the number of cases but the value was decreased by 36% from the same period in 2020); sanction administrative violations with a total of VND 1.7 billion; prosecuted five cases and eight subjects.

The forces have tackled many cases with high value of goods, many banned items, key goods such as firecrackers, weapons, drugs, tobacco, foreign alcohol, food, seafood and poultry.

However, competent forces in the area of ​​Mong Cai city also admitted that there were times when smuggling activities, trade fraud, illegal transport of goods through border gate and illegal transferring of goods between boats still occurred.

Central and provincial competent forces have seized and handled many cases.

The Northern Customs Marine Enforcement Fleet – Fleet 1 (Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department - General Department of Vietnam Customs) worked with C03 (Ministry of Public Security) to arrest three cases, of which one case of illegal transferring cigarettes between boats.

The case of Hong Nguyen International marketplace solved by the General Department of Market Management or the case of An Phat Import-Export Co., Ltd. relating to ore was seized by Quang Ninh Police.

On the other hand, coordination between forces has not worked effectively and there has been a lack of rhythm in exchanging and providing information.

Identifying methods and tricks

According to the Permanent Office of Steering Committee 389 of Quang Ninh (Quang Ninh Customs Department), the Steering Committee 389 of Mong Cai city must direct agencies, units and forces such as Border Defence, Customs and Quarantine to strictly implement plans and professional processes, and support import-export activities. At the same time, ensuring to meet requirements of effective management and pandemic prevention.

Properly identify the local situation, methods and tricks of smugglers as well as illegal transport of goods across borders and border gates to develop and implement plans.

Continue to concretise the tasks, fields and management areas to the member forces in the direction of "clear people, clear jobs, clear responsibilities", associated with the responsibilities of heads of communes, towns and other competent forces.

Directing agencies, units and forces of the Steering Committee 389 of Mong Cai City to strengthen the application of professional measures, tighten the management of border areas and border gates; identifying this was an important task aiming to prevent the pandemic from outside and smuggling and illegal transport of goods across the border activities.

At the same time, strengthen inspection, examination and control of business activities, transportation of goods in the domestic market, tax management, use of invoices and documents of organisations and enterprises; focusing on controlling the leaders and masterminds in the area and through the district; do not let warehouses become gathering points of smuggled and counterfeit goods in the locality.

Communicating on the harms and consequences caused by smuggled goods, goods of unknown origin, goods that do not ensure food safety; encourage people to participate in the fight against smuggling and illegal transport of goods across border.