Use of container scanners at Hai Phong Customs Department changes fundamentally

Effective use of positioning seals and container scanners is required

A mobile container scanner in use at Tan Vu Port.

The Customs sectors screened a total of 8,776 containers, detecting 572 suspicious containers (accounting for 6.52% of total screening containers) and 22 infringing containers (accounting for 3.85% of total suspicious containers) in February (from January 16 to February 15), according to the GDVC.

Hai Phong Customs Department detected 16 infringing containers, accounting for 73% of infringing containers detected by the whole Customs sector.

Currently, Hai Phong Department is assigned to manage and operate four container scanners, including one fixed container scanner, three mobile container scanners installed at ports of Tan Vu, Nam Hai and Lach Huyen, the leader of Customs Enforcement Team said.

Following the GDVC’s Decision No.3272/QD-TCHQ promulgating regulations on inspections for import and export goods by container scanner, the leader of Hai Phong Customs Department directed units to provide solutions, and the department has achieved positive results.

Currently, the screening capacity of container scanners has increased from 65 containers per day to 102 containers daily on average.

One of the reasons for improving the screening capacity of container scanners at Hai Phong Customs Department is the GDVC’s Decision No. 3272/QĐ-TCHQ and documents directing container screening have focused on increasing the number of pre-screening container during loading and unloading.

The increase in the number of pre-screening containers has helped Hai Phong Customs Department perform customs inspection, supervision and control even when the customs declarant is absent.

The pre-screening result is one of factors used to decide the form of inspection when a firm registers the declaration, reducing customs clearance time and cost and preventing violations of enterprises.

The pre-screening contributes to the seizure of infringing productssuch as banned or falsely-declared goods.

A typical case is the import declaration of Hanh Minh Import and Export Trading Company. The goods stated on the manifest wereshower gel and cream cake. The Customs Enforcement Team detected suspicious signs and conducted an inspection. The inspection showed the shipment contained banned consumer and used goods. The team requested to transport to the warehouse for handling.

The case is related to the two containers of Trang Hoang Dat trading Co.,Ltd. The goods stated on the manifest wererubber conveyor belts new 100%. Through the screening for the two shipments, the screening team detected suspicious signs and notified the Customs Enforcement Team No.1 to identify. As a result, the two imported shipments were found to be used machinery and equipment that are banned goods. All the goods were transported to a warehouse for handling

ITTB Co.,Ltd imported a shipment a consignment declared as paurosa wood. The screening results showed suspicious signs. Customs conducted a physical inspection and detected that the shipment included Pteracarpus erinaceus listed under the CITES.

Other violations detected via container scanners wererelated to false declaration of HS codes, leading to alack of payable tax amounts.

Typically, Binh Phat Thang Long General Trading and Service Co., Ltd imported a shipment declared as audio transmission systems. However, via screening, the Dinh Vu Seaport Customs Branch found suspicious signs and conducted a physical inspection. The inspection results showed the goods were falsely declared with the name and tax rate of goods, leading to insufficient tax payable. The total tax increased after screening and inspection was more than VND 956 million.

Kehin Joint Stock Company imported a consignment declared as equipment, valves and taps. Customs discovered suspicious signs of the shipment during screening and conducted a physical inspection. As a result, the company did not declare and falsely declared the name andcategories of goods, leading to alack of nearly VND 400 million of tax amount.

Ha Vu Chung Construction and Trade Co., Ltd. imported goods to Hai Phong port and registered the declaration at Ninh Binh Customs Branch. The company declared the goods were natural granite. However, inspection and verification results showed the goods are artificial stone. The firm has made a false declaration of the goods category, leading to a lack of the tax payable of more than VND 300 million.

The leader of the Customs Enforcement Team said it will continue to work closely with competent forces to deploy measures to further improve capacity and the efficiency of detection results through container scanners.