Officers of Customs Enforcement Team (Hai Phong Customs Department) use sniffer dogs to patrol and control Hai Phong port area. Photo: T.Bình

Talking to Customs News, Deputy Head of the Customs Enforcement Team (Hai Phong Customs Department) Le Dinh Hanh said that, in the last months of 2021, the import of essential consumer goods would increase sharply during the Lunar New Year, such as alcohol, beer, cigarettes, petrol, food, cosmetics, even some prohibited items such as drugs, explosive materials, firecrackers of all kinds, wild animals, as well as goods with counterfeit labels, brands and origin for consumption.

With policies and guidelines on trade facilitation and implementation of electronic customs procedures, implementation of the National Single Window, is not only facilitating quick and convenient customs clearance for enterprises to comply with the law, but also raising a problem used by suspects to smuggle, illegally transport goods across borders, and commit trade fraud.

"In response to the forecast, before, during and after the Lunar New Year of 2022, the unit would deploy professional measures to effectively control the situation," Le Dinh Hanh said.

For example, the customs enforcement force of Hai Phong Customs Department strengthened investigation, research and grasped the situation of the area, collected information from the customs professional information system, the port control unit (PCU), from the unit inside and outside the customs sector on smuggling activities, trade fraud, illegal transport of goods across borders.

In particular, focusing on controlling illegal trading and transport of drugs, precursors, fake food, poor quality consumer goods, used machinery and equipment, rare wild animals and weapons, explosive materials, firecrackers of all kinds, through border-gate areas by land, sea and air. Concentrating on inspecting and controlling, focusing to promptly preventing and handling cases of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in accordance with the law.

Along with that is organizing reconnaissance, strengthening patrol and control at warehouse areas, seaport border gates, road routes, Cat Bi airport area, using means of transport for patrolling and controlling the river and sea under the customs management area. At the same time, using secret facilities, using the information provided by the public to review and investigate potential smugglers with a history of illegal use or possession of drugs in order to coordinate with local authorities (Police, Coast Guard, Border Guard) to detect, prevent and promptly handle violations.

The Customs Enforcement Team also strengthened coordination with border-gate customs branches to inspect import and export goods, luggage of people on entry and exit, and used sniffer dogs to detect drugs and precursors before, during and after the Lunar New Year of 2022.

In addition, the unit continues to coordinate with branches in sharing and providing information and dossiers of processing and export production enterprises showing signs of origin fraud, intentionally transferring raw materials, imported materials for domestic consumption in the Vietnamese market, violating intellectual property rights, illegal transit; especially strengthening control of cigarettes, cigars, wine and beer deposited into bonded warehouses before, during and after the Lunar New Year of 2022, the Deputy Head said.

According to Hai Phong Customs Department, besides professional measures implemented by customs control force, in the last months of the year, the whole Department has continued to focus resources on effectively implementing the directives of the Government, National Steering Committee 389, Ministry of Finance, General Department of Vietnam Customs, People's Committee and Steering Committee 389 of Hai Phong City related to the fight against smuggling, counterfeiting, trade fraud and performance of assigned tasks.

Leaders of Hai Phong Customs Department have directed border-gate Customs Branches, Customs Enforcement Team to continue implementing plans on fighting smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and strengthen the control work for consumer goods, foods, supplementary foods, harmful goods; continue to implement the plan to combat smuggling, counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights in 2021.

Simultaneously, developing and implementing the signing of regulations on coordination between Hai Phong Customs Department and Hai Phong City Police in the fight against crime and legal violations in 2021 and following years.