According to information from the Customs Department, the consumption demand of people and production and business activities increased sharply at the end of the year and Lunar New Year, causing the situation of smuggling, illegal transportation of goods, trade fraud and counterfeit goods to tend to increase, becoming complicated with many new sophisticated methods and tricks.
On the northern mainland border line, violating goods are concentrated in alcohol, beer, milk, sugar, foreign cigarettes, confectionery, cosmetics, food, of which frozen food and cigarette leaves are noteworthy. Deploying a peak period of fighting against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026 according to the direction of Steering Committee 389 of the Ministry of Finance and Plan No. 30141/KH-CHQ dated October 20, 2025, the Customs force has strengthened inspection and control at border gates, trails, and open paths.
In the first days of January 2026, the Customs force continuously discovered and arrested many cases of transporting frozen food of unknown origin from China into the inland.
At 09:15 on January 09, 2026, in the bushes under the foot of Khuan Tay bridge, in the area of Landmark 1239, Chi Ma border gate Customs, Sub-Department of Customs Region VI discovered a subject carrying illegal goods across the border. In actual inspection, functional forces seized 1,000 kg of frozen pig feet, packed in 50 bags, each bag 20 kg. The entire shipment was thawed, showing signs of decomposition, smelling foul and without legal documents.
Previously, on January 8, 2026, in the quarantine area under the Lao Cai International Border Gate Management Center, Lao Cai International Border Gate Customs, Sub-Department of Customs of Region VII discovered and seized 220 kg of thawed sausage and sausage that did not meet food safety and hygiene conditions.
On January 14, 2026, in the area of landmark 1318, Hoanh Mo commune, Quang Ninh province, Hoanh Mo border gate Customs, Sub-Department of Customs Region VIII discovered and seized 304 kg of sausages made from processed pork, wrapped in nylon 1 cay 40g, Chinese brand, without legal documents. The value of the exhibits was determined to be 48,640,000 VND.
Through the cases, the Customs Department said that subjects often take advantage of the high demand for food consumption near Tet, using tricks to divide goods into smaller portions, illegally transporting them through trails and open paths to bring food of unknown origin into Vietnam, in order to evade the control of functional forces.
In addition, the Customs force also discovered a case of transporting cigarette leaves in large quantities.
At 0:45 on January 14, 2026, a working group led by Po Peo Border Gate Customs, Sub-Department of Customs of Region XVI, in coordination with the Traffic Police Department of Cao Bang Provincial Police and Ngoc Con Border Guard Station, discovered and arrested a case of illegal transportation of goods in the Trung Khanh commune area, Cao Bang province.
Checking a truck with license plate 99C-xxx.xx, functional forces discovered 3.335 tons of dried tobacco leaves without labels, invoices, or legal documents. The driver confessed that he was hired to transport the goods from the border area to the inland for consumption. All exhibits and vehicles have been temporarily seized for further verification and handling according to regulations.
According to the Customs Department, the above cases are warnings to subjects intending to take advantage of the Lunar New Year to transport and trade in dirty food, firecrackers, fireworks and goods without legal documents. At the same time, this also shows the determination of the Customs force in strengthening control, protecting people's health and maintaining legal discipline on the border line.
