Smuggled fireworks from border areas

	Severely handling cases of temporary import for re-export for smuggling
	Many shipments of toys and games for children re-exported
	Illicit food smuggling is “sophisticated”

Customs officers of the Lang Son Customs Department detroyed illicit fireworks. Photo: Hong Nu.

In order to evade the control of functional forces, perpetrators change the methods of hiding and transportation of fireworks into Vietnam, regardless of day or night. Realizing the illegal operations of perpetrators at the end of the year, the functional forces have focused on anti-smuggling in the peak months.

For example, in Lang Son border areas, through struggle and investigation, the Customs force has detected and seized many cases of illegal transportation of fireworks and firecrackers from China to Vietnam for consumption. The smuggling activities usually take place in border areas, minor trails and crossings of Tan Thanh, Coc Nam, Chi Ma and Huu Nghi. Accordingly, perpetrators often take advantage of import and export cargo vehicles to hide prohibited goods or transport illicit goods at night through trails and minor entrance gates into Vietnam.

By 22nd December 2016, the Lang Son Customs Department had actively coordinated with the Police force and the Border Guard to discover, handle 25 cases and seize 463.8 kg of fireworks made in China of various kinds. Most smuggling cases arose from August 2016. In particular, the functional forces continued to investigate, verify and prosecute many cases with serious violations.

As an example, at 7pm on 6th December 2016, in ​​Bao Lam commune, Cao Loc District, Lang Son Province, the Customs Control Team hosted and collaborated with the PA61 Division – the Lang Son police force to deploy and arrest perpetrators. At the scene, the functional forces stopped Mr. Le Van Thanh (born in 1988, residing in Hoa Phu, Binh Duong, Vinh Tuong District, Vinh Phuc Province) using a motorcycle to carry 2 sacks, and 1 bag containing 21 fireworks in the form of cakes and 824 fireworks in the form of eggs, with a total weight of 73kg. Earlier, on 2nd November 2016, the Customs Control Team of the Coc Nam Customs Branch coordinated with relevant forces to arrest Mr. Pham Van Huu (born in 1984, residing in Dual 2A, Huu Giang Commune, Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang Province) transporting fireworks from China to Vietnam. They included 30 rigs of fireworks with 36 fireworks per rig and 500 explosive shells with a total weight of 63kg.

Contrary to previous years, at the border area of ​​Mong Cai (Quang Ninh), from October 2016 to date, there have been no violations related to fireworks. However, in August 2016 and December 2016, at Van Gia port and Bac Phong Sinh border gate, the Customs force discovered two huge transportation of fireworks. In August 2016, the Van Gia Customs Branch prosecuted 2 cases of transportation of fireworks and transferred them to the Police force for further investigation. Then, on 17th November 2016, the Bac Phong Sinh Customs Branch (under the Quang Ninh Customs Department) discovered and seized 2,848 tons of fireworks. Currently, the Bac Phong Sinh Customs Branch is working with the Bac Phong Sinh Border Guard to investigate and verify the owner of the shipment and take strict measures as prescribed.

Not only have smuggling activities occurred openly in the Vietnam-China border areas but the illegal transportation of fireworks has also occurred in the Vietnam-Laos border areas, which is adjacent to Nghe An province and Quang Binh province. For example, at Cha Lo international border gate (Quang Binh province), in recent years, the Customs force has collaborated with the Border Guard to discover and destroy many illegal transportation of fireworks across borders. Normally, illegal fireworks were in hidden spaces of passenger cars, trucks and luggage from Laos into Vietnam. In many cases, perpetrators concealed fireworks in empty compartments below the floor of passenger cars or even in televisions. Most violators and perpetrators are drivers of trucks and passenger cars with frequent transportation of goods across borders. From early December 2016 to date, the Cha Lo Customs Branch and the Cha Lo Border Guard have discovered, and destroyed 3 cases of smuggling and seized nearly 20kg of fireworks.

Handing over the case of seizing nearly 3 tons of fireworks to police VCN – Discussing with a correspondent of the Customs Newspaper, The Manager of Bắc Phong Sinh Customs ...

In order to prevent smuggling of fireworks from the border areas, in the last months of 2016, the Customs force and the Border Guard at all levels have directed relevant units to operate in line with legal documents of the Prime Minister; the Ministries; the People’s Committee of Provinces, the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the High Command of the Border Guard against illegal production, purchase, transportation, storage and use of fireworks. At the same time, the functional forces should strictly implement plans against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting before, during and after Dinh Dau Tet Lunar holiday in 2017.