The Customs Enforcement Team under Dong Thap Customs Department in coordination with local police authority has seized 1,700 packs of smuggled cigarettes.

Smuggled cigarettes hidden inside straw seized by Dong Thap Customs. Photo: M.T

On June 21, receiving information from the public, the Customs Enforcement Team in collaboration with Police of An Binh A Ward, Hong Ngu City tackled two cases of illegally imported cigarettes with a total of 1,700 packs.

The working team inspected two plastic baskets covered with straw near Muong Lon ferry terminal and found 885 packs of imported cigarettes.

Then, the working team discovered a man driving a motorbike with many cartons, and travelling towards from Hong Ngu to Cao Lanh.

When detecting the working team, the man left the cartons on the road and escaped towards Highway 30. The team inspected these cartons and detected 876 packs of cigarettes.

These two cases occurred on the road in An Loi hamlet, An Binh A ward, Hong Ngu city.

All the cigarettes were transported by smugglers from the border to places and then were to be transported inland for consumption, local authorities said.