Consecutive seizures of second-hand phones, cigarettes and cosmetics at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) in the first two months showed signs of smuggling and trafficking by air.

10,000 tubes of Indian Melacare toothpaste are valued atmore than VND2 billion

In the early days of 2021, Team No. 1 (Department of Anti-Smuggling Investigation, General Department of Customs) presided over and handled many violations at Noi Bai international airport.

Deputy Head of Team No. 1: Ngo Thanh Tuan:

The key routes are flights from Europe to Noi Bai such as France, Germany, the US, the Middle East, Korea, Russia and Japan. The illegal goods are mainly second-hand computers, phones, watches and milk, supplementary foods, cigarettes and tobacco materials.

Recently, the team on March 11 presided over and coordinated with Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch (Hanoi Customs Department); and Economic Security Division- PA04 (Hanoi Police) to inspect and seize 10,000 tubes of Indian Melacare toothpaste, valued at more than VND2 billion at a warehouse in Noi Bai airport.

The goodswere transported on flight number EY0971 of Etihad Airways from India to Noi Bai international airport on February 20, 2021.

These imported goods must be licensed by the Health Ministry. However, at the time of inspection, the license was not provided. The consignee on the bill of lading sent a document to the customs agency to refuse to receive the goods.

Previously, on March 4, Team No. 1 chaired and collaborated with the Economic Security Division and Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch to seized 12,370 Medley cigarettepacks and 745kg of tobacco materials. The infringing goods were also transported on Etihad Airways flight from Dubai to Noi Bai on January 14, 2021.

Before the Lunar New Year holiday (end of January and early February 2021), the team handled two cases with infringing goods of 1,358 used phones, mainly iPhones, which were transported from Korea to Noi Bai international airport.

The similar feature of the above cases is absence of the goods owners.

"These goods are overdue for customs procedures, the consignees refuse to receive goods or the consignees are “bogus companies” as in the case of more than 10,000 Medley cigarettes," a customs officer said.

The cases are being investigated by the anti-smuggling force.

Deputy Head of Team No. 1 Ngo Thanh Tuan said at thebeginning of 2021, the violations related to imported goods at Noi Bai international airport were more complicated than at the end of 2020.

Notably, due to the strict management of Customs, smugglers have changed methods of transportation of goods and not declared under the H11 customs regime as before.

Facing this situation, the anti-smuggling force has taken synchronous measures to strictly manage the area and identify key enterprises and products to make plans and closely monitor and supervise consignments at risk of smuggling.

“From the beginning of the year to the middle of March, Team No. 1 issued nearly 20 decisions to inspect suspicious shipments, most of which were infringing goods.The outstanding cases were related to phones, cigarettes, tobacco materials and cosmetics,”said Mr. Ngo Thanh Tuan.

According to the leader of Team No.1, under the directions of leaders at all levels, the team will continue professional measures, such as reviewing and re-evaluating customs regimes and goods to have appropriate and effective action plans.

H11 is customs regime of import of “others” including goods as gifts or gifts sent by organizations or individuals in Vietnam to overseas organizations or individuals; goods of diplomatic missions, international organizations in Vietnam and people working at these agencies and organizations; humanitarian aid and non-refundable aid goods; goods including non-paid samples; goods that are personal luggage of an entry person deposited under the bill of lading, goods carried on entry that exceed the duty-free allowance (including goods traded or exchanged by border residents in excess of the duty-free quota).