Before the Conference on National Post-Clearance Audit, Director General Nguyen Van Can chaired and addressed the online conference to review performance in the third quarter and set out task for the fourth quarter 2023 of the GDVC. Photo: T.B

Handling thousands of violations

According to GDVC, the Customs sector continued to strengthen customs modernization and reform, and facilitation; coordinated ministries and sectors to implement National Single Window and ASEAN Single Window.

As of September 30, 250 administrative procedures of 13 ministries and sectors, 6.69 million dossiers of over 65,000 enterprises were connected to the National Single Window.

ASEAN Single Window maintains the connection to exchange information on e-C/O form D with all nine ASEAN member states.

Regarding import and export activities, the import and export turnover in September decreases 2.5% or US$ 1.56 billion to US$60.52 billion month-on-month. The export turnover dropped 4.1% or US$ 1.36 billion to US$ 31.41 billion and the import turnover fell 0.7% or US$ 205 million to US$ 29.12 billion.

In nine months of the year, the total trade in goods of the whole country deceased by 11% or US$ 61.41 billion to US$ 497.66 billion year-on-year. The export turnover declined 8.2% to US$ 259.67 billion and import turnover dropped 13.8% to US$ 237.99 billion.

The trade balance in September was estimated at a trade surplus of US$2.29 billion and the cumulative trade surplus in nine months was estimated at US$21.68 billion.

In the third quarter, the whole Customs sector collected VND83,695 billion, down 9.7% compared with the second quarter and down 18.4% year-on-year. At the end of September, the sector’s revenue decreased 18.6% to VND268,690 billion year-on-year, meeting 63.2% of the estimate.

The GDVC assessed that smuggling and trade fraud has taken complicatedly, focusing on some offences such as failing to declare or declare goods that inconsistent with the actual status; hiding origin and transport route for smuggling and illegal transportation of goods, drugs, wildlife, and currency across the border; importing goods that do not meet standards and regulations...

The GDVC directed the whole sector to drastically implement measures and achieved positive results.

In the third quarter, the whole sector detected and handled 4,635 customs offences with the value of infringing goods of VND 2,350 billion. The Customs prosecuted eight cases and transferred other agencies to prosecutes 26 cases, and collected VND70 billion to the State budget.

Drug-related crimes are still complicated

In the third quarter, the trafficking and illegal transportation of drugs across the border gate took place complicatedly.

Smugglers often change their transportation methods with increasingly sophisticated tricks such as carrying or hiding drugs in goods and luggage.

On road routes, the situation takes place mainly in border gates of Laos, Cambodia and China.

Drug-related crimes tend to increase on air routes, mainly across international airports of Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang with supplies from European and American countries.

On the other hand, suspects shift the transportation route from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Noi Bai International and then transported by land route and rail to the South with synthetic drugs and medicines containing addictive, psychotropic substances, marijuana hidden in packages of candy, supplemental foods, dog and cat food, cosmetics...

In the third quarter, the Customs sector coordinated with other enforcement forces to seize 60 cases and 69 suspects; seized over 200kg drugs.

Director General Nguyen Van Can said that in the third quarter the whole Customs sector has made great efforts and achieved positive results completing draft legal documents to meet quality and ensure progress; focusing on trade facilitation; achieving outstanding results in the fight against smuggling.

Regarding performing tasks in the fourth quarter in the near future, the GDVC has provided key solutions, Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can directed that the whole Customs sector needs to effectively perform important tasks.

The Customs sector needs to effectively implement agreements and commitments of senior leaders of Vietnam and China in Customs area. Accordingly, focus on effectively implementing the fight against drug-related crimes; actively conduct contents related to smart border gates and smart borders, firstly pilot at Huu Nghi border gate pair of Huu Nghi (Vietnam) - Huu Nghi Quan (China).

The Director of General said that the crimes is forecast to continue to have complicated developments. Therefore, the entire sector needs to raise vigilance and implement comprehensively professional measures, and promoted domestic and international cooperation to promptly detect and combat violations.

In addition, the Customs sector needs to strengthen the capacity building; expedite the communication on performance of the whole sector and each unit.

Customs Magazine will update information on the conference on National Post-Clearance Audit.

At the end of September, the Customs sector arrested and handled 12,903 customs offences with the estimated value of infringing goods at VND 5,025 billion. The Customs prosecuted 26 cases and transferred other agencies to prosecute 85 cases, and collected VND 384.7 billion.

Regarding the results of fighting drug-related crimes, the Customs sector presided over and coordinated with other forces (Police, Border Guard) to detect and arrest 200 cases, 217 subjects, including 90 cases arrested by the customs, and about 1.4 tons of drugs.