Siezed many cases of drug smuggling airline – Part 2: gifts are… drugs

Cannabis concealed in the gifts sent by air was arrested in May 2017 by the HCMC Customs. Picture: T.H

Nutritional box contains... marijuana

In early August 2017, the Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch seized 4.9 kg of cannabis stored in powdered milk boxes, imported as personal gifts to an individual.

In July 2017, suspecting two consignments of goods sent through airfreight service, Customs inspectors have discovered that drugs were hidden in food containers. Examining the shipment that is weighing more than 90 kg, including items such as shampoo, clothes, candy... imported in the form of gifts, donations as prescribed by regulations, in this shipment also has a box of powder (weighs 875 grams) with a bag of nylon inside weighing nearly 200 grams containing Methamphetamine.

Previously, on July 12, 2017, Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Sub-Department carried out the procedures for the shipment of import gifts included 5 packages, weighing 99 kg. Through the screening, noticing that there are abnormal signs so the Department has checked the entire shipment. Along with items such as clothes, candy, toothpaste, ... there is a plastic box containing mustard (3.75 lit). Opening this box, Customs officers discovered two bags of nylon inside containing marijuana’s leaves and flowers listed in List I, No. 8, Decree No. 82/2013/ND-CP dated July 19 on prohibiting transport and trade.

According to a Tan Son Nhat International Airport's customs leader, among 8 cases of drug trafficking by air were arrested by the Department for more than 9 months in 2017, more than a haft of them is detected from gifts sent from abroad to Vietnam. Through the cases have been coordinated by the Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Department and other functional forces show that the violators do not give up any tricks to find ways to transfer drugs into Vietnam.

Cannabis hidden in containers of fruit jam sent through by express was seized in September 2017.

Arrested a teacher trafficking drugs

According to the Drug Control Team - HCMC Customs Department, the team is now warning the recurrence of drug trafficking by African traffickers seeking to seduce some Vietnamese women to participate in the drug transport groups. Mr. Huynh Nam, the head of the Drug Control Team, said earlier that some Vietnamese girls were arrested when they were transporting drugs through the air. Vietnamese authorities have repeatedly warned of this situation. After more than 2 years of propaganda, recently this situation reoccur as the case of a teacher in Binh Thuan was arrested when trafficking drugs in August 2017.

For more detail: In early August, a 37-year-old female teacher, a Vietnamese living in Binh Thuan province, was arrested by the customs office after taking a flight from Brazil to HCM City for illegal transportation of drugs. According to her initial claim to customs, she has feelings for a Nigerian man through the Meetme social network. In late July 2017, the Nigerian gave the teacher money to buy tickets to go to Brazil. When returning home, she was relied on bringing gifts to his relatives in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking gifts as CDs and some clothes, she has no doubt and put them in her luggage and brought back to Vietnam at the request of her boyfriend. As arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport, the boyfriend's gift package was taken over by the authorities due to suspected banned goods. The customs office checked, searched and discovered the cocaine hidden CDs.

According to statistics, in the last 5 years, Tan Son Nhat International Airport's Customs Sub-Department has detected and arrested 52 suspects (including 32 women, 19 of whom are Vietnamese and 13 are foreigners) on charges of illegal transportation of narcotics. Most of the violators are seduced, deceived, manipulated by various tricks and methods to transport narcotics for African-originated leaders. These cases are a warning bell about the status of Vietnamese women easily enticed, lied by drug dealers by various tricks such as making friend online, or accidental encouraged, had a closet relationship and then request to collaborate in making business to transport illegal drugs.

Mr. Pham Quoc Hung, Deputy Director of Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City.

Always defining the management of drug trafficking in a “hot” area, in addition to anti-smuggling plans in general, the Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City pay special attention to the implementation of specialized projects, plans in drug prevention. In addition, the training, improving professional skills, experience for the work force is also one of the solutions are often concerned.