Recently, HCM City Customs has recorded many achievements in the fight against smuggling, handling many big cases, seizing hundreds of kilograms of drugs worth hundreds of billions of dong. At a recent seminar with the theme of the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam Customs – "For the target of protecting the national interests and sovereignty", the Director of HCM City Customs Department Dinh Ngoc Thang gave information about two big cases that he was directly engaged in.

Investigation Committee M918 of HCM City Customs Department co-chaired with the Ministry of Public Security (C04); the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department under the General Department of Customs and authorities to successfully destroy a drug smuggling case with the largest amount ever (more than 500kg of ketamine), on May 12, 2019. 

Case of 1 million tablets

“For a long time, there has been some bad opinions about the Customs sector, Customs officers have been thought of as something flashy, with many perks related to negativity and harassment. But their duties have not been understood as door keepers ensuring economic security and experiencing difficulties and devotion,” said Dinh Ngoc Thang.

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thang said in 2008, when he was a head of a unit under Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch (HCM City Customs Department), he directed the inspection of a shipment and discovered nearly one million tablets valued at VND318 billion in 48 speaker boxes.

The thrilling developments, dangerous and complicated situations of the case inspired and were staged into a performance of operations of Customs officers on the front of anti-smuggling. This repertoirewas performed at the conference on the patriotic emulation movement of Ho Chi Minh City in 2012 and won first prize. In particular, it was selected to be performed at the 65th anniversary of Uncle Ho appealed to Patriotic Emulationwith the participation of the Prime Minister.

“After the case and through performances, the leaders and departments of the city have a different view of the Customs character and understand more about the difficulties, dangers and see dedication of customs officers in performing duties of ensuring economic security. This is an encouragement for myself and the customs officers in the unit to continue efforts and strive to obtain new victories,” Dinh Ngoc Thang said.

M918 special case and customs character

On May 11, 2019, the HCM City Customs Department co-chaired with the Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes (C04-Ministry of Public Security), coordinated with the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Customs) and authorities to destroy an illegal transportation line of more than half a ton of ketamine, worth VND500 billion. This was the biggest ever drug trafficking case of the Customs sector. Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thang and the director of C04department directedto handle the case. The victory showed the initiative, ingenuity, creativity, close coordination between the Customs agency and the authorities with the brave and high determination in handling crimes, contributing to maintaining political security and social order and safety.

“To achieve the above-mentioned victory needed a process of monitoring, meeting, discussing and planning closely, smoothly, overcoming many difficulties and challenges of the staff of Customs, Police and the attention and close direction of General Director of General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Can. The M918 special case took place nearly a year and a half ago, but every time I repeat, I still feel very proud of the customs character," Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thang said.

Sharing more information about the case, Thang saidfrom the report of the Drug ControlTeam, with information about a Taiwanese suspect, after studying the information, the M918 special case was established. The case was successfully handledafter six months of collecting evidenceand monitoringthe transport of goods from the importation. Along with that was the coordination and scientific duty assignment to both analyze the situation and closely track the movements of suspects, especially when they frequently changed vehicles, hotels and warehouses. The case showed the high consensus between leaders of the Customs agency and the police agency in the assessment of evidence, information, goods and journey to solve the case. This is the most typical and biggest case of the coordination between HCM City Customs Department and C04.

“The whole process of tracking the transportation of goods or verifying the warehouse is dangerous to the individuals in the case. But the highest tide was the day of meeting with the police about the plan to arrest the suspect. That was when it was decided to participate in breaking the case outside the operating area, a series of issues were the legal basis and safety equipment for officers and soldiers. At that time, for the customs character and with determination, I directly reported to the Director Generalon participating in the case,” Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thang said about the difficulties in the process of solving the case.

With a methodical and detailed plan and effective cooperation, especially the efforts and determination of the customs officers and police, the M918 case was successfully destroyed without incidents.