Vietnam Customs has detected a huge a quantity of goods illegally imported from Indonesia to Cat Lai port in HCM City such as seahorses and bird's nests, as well as motorcycle parts hidden inside a container of blood cockles.

Customs seizes smuggled items such as seahorses and
Bird's nests in a container of blood cockles.

On September 28, the shipment of the Vietseatrust Food Import-Export Company Limited (address in Binh Trung Dong Ward, Thu Duc City, HCM City) arrived at Cat Lai Port.

The goods were loaded in a 40-foot container in a port of Jakata (Indonesia).

Then, the shipment was transported on the EVER CLEVER vessel from TANJUNG PELEPAS port (Malaysia) to Cat Lai Port.

The shipment was listed on the manifest as 1,069 packages of frozen blood cockles, HS code 030743. However, in fact, the goods with HS code 030743 are frozen cuttle fish and squid.

The Risk Management Department under the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) inspected the container via a scanner. The inspection result showed that the goods were not consistent with the statement in the manifest.

On September 29, the GDVC requested 1st Sai Gon Zone Customs Branch under HCM City Customs Department to conduct a physical inspection of the suspected container.

On October 6 and 7, the Customs Enforcement Team and the 1st Sai Gon Zone Customs Branch conducted a physical inspection for the shipment.

The preliminary inspection results showed that there were only a few packages of frozen blood cockles outside of the container. Almost all goods in the container were not declared and ineligible for imports such as seahorses, stingrays, bird nests, buffalo horns, motorcycle parts, locks, clothes, household appliances and confectionery.

The customs force is inspecting and asking for verification to identify the quantity and category of goods as a basis for handling violations.

Vietseatrust Food Import-Export Company Limited is a new company and was granted a tax code since February 9 and led by Mr. L.P.B as the Director and the legal representative of the company.

The company has carry out customs clearance for six shipments at Cat Lai Port. The company has mainly imported fishery products such as blood cockles, squid from Indonesia and dried fish balls from Hong Kong.

Currently, the GDVC continues to monitor and direct relevant units to investigate, document and prosecute the case when it shows criminal signs.

Customs News will update readers on this case.