Moc Bai Border Gate Customs Branch under Tay Ninh Customs Department has arrested a suspect illegally transporting 10,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes from Cambodia to Vietnam, the branch said on August 8.

10,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes are seized by Moc Bai
Customs Branch on August 7. Photo: Tran Van Phu

On August 7, implementing the MB004 action plan, Moc Bai Border Gate Customs Branch in coordination with Customs Enforcement Team, Ben Cau District Police, Moc Bai International Border Gate Border Guard Station inspected a tractor driven by Le Duc Thuan 42, and carrying cargo from Cambodia across Moc Bai Border Gate to Vietnam with suspicious signs.

Le Duc Thuan and smuggled cigarettes. Photo: Tran Van Phu

Through inspection, the authorities detected 10,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes, including 8,000 packs of Jet cigarettes and 2,000 packs of Hero cigarettes inside 20 boxes in the cabin of the vehicle without documents. The infringing goods are valued at VND163 million.

Smuggled cigarettes are hidden in the tractor. Photo: Tran Van Phu

Thuan said that he drove the vehicle to deliver goods to Cambodia and received these cigarettes from a Cambodian man to transport to Vietnam.

Smuggled cigarettes hidden inside the tractor. Photo: Tran Van Phu

This is the third time that Thuan was hired to transport cigarettes from Cambodia to the country with a payment of VND4 million/time.

The suspect is transferred to the health force for quarantine. Tran Van Phu

The Branch seized infringing goods and transferred the suspect to the health authority for quarantine.

The case is being investigated by authorities.