Using boats with speeds of up to50 knots is one of the methods used by smugglers in the Northeast Sea, especially for smuggling cigarettes.

Some photos related to the smuggling of more than 4 million cigarette
packs seized by the Customs Marine Enforcement Fleet No.1

Concerns over tobacco smuggling

The leader of the Customs Marine Enforcement Fleet No.1 (under the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department) said that in 2020 cigarette smuggling in the Northeast Sea is still a problem. During the year, the Fleet seized and handled four cases related to foreign cigarettes.

Typically, the seizureof a shipment of 8,549 packages of foreign cigarettes (more than 4 million packs), one ship and 23 suspects in March under the special plan TL-320. This is the largest cigarette smuggling case handled by Customs.

The success of the special plan TL-320 is a breakthrough in the fight against cigarette smuggling, and timely prevention of all cigarettes smuggled into the country for consumption, thereby confirming the position and the important role of the customs control force.

“Through the arrests, some tricks have been found, such as smugglers taking advantage of the dangerous coastal characteristics of Quang Ninh - Hai Phong, with many islands and channels, which are convenient for hiding goods and bad weather conditions, the suspects transfer the cargo to fishing boats, small boats and then transport them inland. Notably, smugglers use boats with2 to 8 engines and speeds of up to 45-50 knots to move to the coastal area from Quang Ninh to Thai Binh, Nam Dinh to tranship smuggled cigarettes to ships and boats disguised as fishing boats and transport them to shore, where there are no people. Then, the smuggled goods are loaded ashore at night, between 22:00 and 4 a.m. Then, they use cars with7-15 seats to transport tobacco inland,” leader of Fleet No. 1 said.

In addition, cigarette smuggling rings are often protected by gangsters; and there are linksbetween foreigners and domestic suspects to smuggle cigarettes into the country.

Smuggled cigarettes are cheap and are foreign, and cigarette packs are not printed with health warning images, so people prefer to use them.

Need to strengthen international cooperation

To further improve the effectiveness of the fight against smuggling in the Northeast Sea, the leader of the Fleet No. 1 proposed to strengthen international cooperation and information exchange with neighboring countries, and countrieswiththe transit of smuggled cigarettes into Vietnam. It is necessary to exchange information about cigarette imports, tobacco trade, and cooperate in controlling tobacco smuggling in border gates.

Enterprises trading and providing services for tobacco and foreign alcohol must deposit, open LCs, and pay via banks. Tobacco products are only allowed tobe exported through major border gates, international border gates, in full container load and not in less than container load.

For the customs control force, it is necessary to regularly train and improve operational knowledge and skills to enhance investigation skills. In addition, it is necessary to equip additional vehicles with powerful engines, and can operate in narrow channels, coastal areas, along islands and train officers to use thesevehicles.

Proposing the competent authorities to discuss with the Vietnam Tobacco Association to set up a fund to support and reward anti-smuggling forces upon the seizure of smuggled cigarettes.