The Customs sector has proactively implemented many solutions to prevent, combat, suppress and control this dangerous crime.
The situation of violations is becoming more and more complicated.
According to data from the General Department of Customs, in the first 8 months of 2023, the Customs sector detected, arrested and handled 11,329 cases of violations of customs laws. The value of the violated goods is estimated at VND 4,435 billion. In the fight against drugs alone, the Customs force presided over and coordinated with the Police and Border Guard to detect and arrest 182 cases and 194 subjects (the Customs agency presided over 83 cases). The seized evidence was over 1.4 tons of various drugs.
In reality, the situation of smuggling and trade fraud is complicated, focusing on some behaviors such as: Not declaring, declaring customs incorrectly with the actual goods; concealing the origin and route of the shipment to smuggle, illegally transport prohibited goods, wild animals... Notably, the situation of criminal activities of buying, selling and illegally transporting drugs is increasingly sophisticated. Subjects take advantage of other types of imported goods to illegally transport and trade drugs across the border to Vietnam and then transfer them to other countries for consumption. They often disguise drugs in candy packages, functional foods, animal food, cosmetics...
The illegal trading and transportation of synthetic drugs tends to shift to Noi Bai International Airport, especially flights from the US and countries in the European Union. The subjects use many methods and tricks, including hiding and disguising drugs as goods, regular checked baggage, and many subjects even recklessly carry them in hand luggage.
Typically, in June 2023, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, Hanoi City Police, in coordination with the Hanoi City Customs Department and the Police of several provinces and cities, dismantled a drug trafficking and transportation ring from Europe to Vietnam through Noi Bai International Airport. The task force arrested 4 subjects and seized more than 62 kg of various synthetic drugs disguised in parcels of household goods and beer cans.
Next, at the North Hanoi Customs Branch, the Drug Control and Prevention Team (Hanoi Customs Department) presided over and coordinated with the North Hanoi Customs Branch and units of the Hanoi Police to inspect and discover more than 19kg of suspected ketamine hidden in 2 cargo containers. The above evidence was cleverly disguised by the subjects at the bottom of cocoa boxes, then covered with cocoa powder, packaged and mixed with cakes, candies and other consumer goods.
Strengthen inspection and control of goods
Economist Nguyen Minh Phong said that the increasingly sophisticated methods of criminals have made it difficult to prevent and combat drug smuggling and illegal transportation. Therefore, it is necessary to implement synchronous solutions, especially close coordination between forces.
According to the General Department of Customs, in the coming time, customs forces will focus on controlling and preventing violations on air routes; strengthening the management of duty-free business activities for duty-free shops and warehouses; checked baggage, and baggage of passengers entering and leaving through international airports. In particular, customs control forces will promote the application of technology, enhance screening and image analysis.
In addition, the General Department of Customs requires provincial and municipal customs departments to strengthen inspection, supervision and control of goods sent via express delivery services to prevent the abuse of this form of transportation for commercial fraud. In particular, customs authorities do not carry out customs procedures for low-value import declarations with incomplete and unclear recipient information.
Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department (General Department of Customs) Vu Quang Toan said that the anti-smuggling force will focus on basic investigation as well as assessment and identification of key routes, routes, and goods. From there, it will be put into risk management, and at the same time, information will be shared with domestic and foreign authorities to promptly detect violations.
Recently, Vietnam Customs sent a delegation to visit and work with Hong Kong Customs (China). The two sides agreed on specific professional cooperation activities, identified key directions for cooperation in the coming time; in which, special focus is placed on improving the effectiveness of cooperation in preventing and combating drug-related crimes through customs, concretizing in information exchanges about suspicious subjects, routes, shipments, etc.; information about arrests. Thereby, the two sides support each other in investigations to promptly detect from a distance and early on organized, transnational drug crimes, etc.
Given the complexity of smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal drug transportation today, it is clear that proactive prevention and control from the Customs sector as well as related sectors is needed. Only then can we hope to reduce the number of smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal drug transportation cases in the coming time.
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