Removing shortcomings in handling confiscated smuggled foreign cigarettes

	Backlog of 6 million packs of smuggled foreign cigarettes
	Researching two solutions for handling seized smuggled foreign cigarettes
	The sale proceeds of confiscated foreign cigarettes must lodge to State Budget

Customs officers inspect smuggled cigarettes. Photo: Q.H

However, the implementation has had some difficulties. Currently, there are more than seven million packages of confiscated smuggled cigarettes that have not been handled.The announcement said that based on the proposals of ministries, sectors and localities to avoid waste and to not cause environmental pollution, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 20/2018/QD-TTg on implementing the destruction of smuggled foreign cigarettes which are fake or not of good quality, and the pilot auction of confiscated smuggled foreign cigarettes of good quality to export.

To implement Decision No.20/2018/QD-TTg, the Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Finance to issue a document guiding the determination of reserve prices for the auction of confiscated smuggled foreign cigarettes in good quality and the use of funds for the destruction of smuggled foreign cigarettes which are fake or illegible for auction and export.

People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, especially localities with large quantities of confiscated smuggled cigarettes, shall request competent forces to classify smuggled foreign cigarettes in localities, arrange warehouses and yards for preservation and coordinate with organisations and units eligible for quality inspection and assessment and issue decisions on destruction or auction.

They should also encourage enterprises that are legible for auctions of confiscated smuggled foreign cigarettes in good quality for export according to regulations, ensuring convenience and efficiency.

For cigarettes that are fake and poor quality, competent forces shall destroy and use funds for destruction according to the guidance of the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Finance shall direct the Customs force to supervise the export of confiscated smuggled cigarettes of enterprises after winning the auction and strictly handle violations (if any).

The Ministry should monitor and summarise the results of implementing Decision No. 20/2018 / QD-TTg, and report to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of 2020.