Customs has collected more than VND150 billion from handling violations.

Foreign alcohols in an infringing shipment were seized by Northern Anti-smuggling
Enforcement Unit at Noi Bai International Airport on August 27. Photo: Thai Binh
 

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), the smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border has decreased in the third quarter.

However, amid the turbulent development of Covid-19 pandemic, some smugglers have smuggled medical equipment for disease prevention and control such as medical gloves and rapid test kits for SARS-Cov 2 virus.

On August 27, the Northern Anti-smuggling Enforcement Unit detected four cases of goods sent by individuals from Russia to Noi Bai International Airport containing infringing goods.

Customs conducted a physical inspection and detected that all goods are conditional imports. The goods owners were absent. Infringing goods included Covid-19 rapid test kit, antiviral drugs, Macallan wine, milk, electronic cigarettes, skin cream and functional foods.

On September 14, the Northern Anti-smuggling Enforcement Unit worked with HCM City Customs Department, the Express Delivery Cargo Customs Branch and the Economic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) inspected 15 goods packages with suspecious signs.

The goods were declared as food. However, during inspection, the customs seized some 60,000 tablets of medicine for Covid-19 treatment such as Favipiravir Tablets 200 mg; Favipiravir Tablets Fabiflu 400 mg; Baricitinib; and Molnupiravir Capsules.

Notably, the drug trafficking by air still took place in a complex manner.

On July 16, the working team of Lao Cai Customs Department in coordination with Lao Cai Police arrested two suspects for illegally transporting drugs and seized 9kg of synthetic drugs.

The GDVC has directed all anti-smuggling forces of the Customs sector to make plans for each area to ensure the efficiency of the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, contributing to maintaining national security, sovereignty and social security.

In the third quarter, the Customs sector tackled 3,129 offences with infringing goods worth more than VND304 billion; collected about VND48.5 billion, prosecuted 10 cases and transferred 24 cased to other agencies for persecution.

Between January and September, Customs arrested and handled 10,507 violations with infringing worth VND1,842 billion; collected VND150.633 billion, prosecuted 22 cases and transferred 22 cases to other agencies for persecution.