Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister and the plan to strengthen control and fight against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights, in the past time, customs forces have continuously discovered many violating shipments at Cat Lai port (HCMC), with nearly 20,000 products including expired cosmetics, counterfeit branded goods and goods not declared to customs.
According to the Customs Department, Anti-Smuggling Control Team No. 3 (Team 3) - Anti-Smuggling Investigation Sub-Department has chaired and coordinated with Saigon Port Border Gate Customs Sub-Department Area 1 under Sub-Department of Customs Region II to strengthen inspection of suspicious shipments, thereby detecting many violations.
On April 24, 2026, through inspection of a batch of imported cosmetics of type A11 of H.G Import-Export Trading and Service Co., Ltd., customs forces discovered that the enterprise declared the goods as DR WONJIN HYAL-8 TONER 750ml moisturizing toner, brand DR WONJIN (Korea), 100% new, transported from Hong Kong (China) to Cat Lai port.
However, the inspection results showed that the entire shipment of 14,550 bottles had expired for nearly a year. The expiration date shown on the carton and on the product is August 16, 2025.
Customs forces also discovered a shipment of locked doors imported under type A11 of HP Import-Export Trading Co., Ltd. with suspicious signs.
Through actual inspection, in addition to goods declared in accordance with regulations, functional forces discovered 5 more items with a total of 15,790 locked products not declared to customs. Among these, there are 1,440 SOLEX locked products suspected of being counterfeit brands.
On April 10, 2026, the National Institute of Intellectual Property issued an inspection document determining that all 1,440 products were counterfeit SOLEX brand goods, infringing intellectual property rights.
Continuing to inspect the transit shipment from Cat Lai port to Cambodia of LS Co., Ltd. on April 23, 2026, customs forces discovered more than 3,000 counterfeit products of protected brands in Vietnam.
Including 450 footballs bearing the MIKASA FT-5 brand and 560 volleyballs bearing the MIKASA MG MV200 brand, both of Chinese origin. By May 6, 2026, the representative of the rights holder, MIKASA CORPORATION (Japan) in Vietnam, confirmed that all of the above goods were counterfeit goods bearing the "MIKASA" brand.
Functional forces also discovered 90 sets of SPIDERMAN role-playing toys, 780 SPIDERMAN-themed children's soccer balls and 700 sets of AVENGERS racing car toys. On May 7, 2026, the representative of the rights owner, Marvel Characters, Inc. (USA) in Vietnam, confirmed that these are counterfeit goods of the "SPIDER-MAN" and "AVENGERS" brands.
Customs authorities also discovered 260 LEGO NINJAGO assembly sets and 300 NINJAGO 126 piece puzzle sets. Through initial exchanges, representatives of the rights holder in Vietnam said that all 560 products were counterfeit LEGO NINJAGO brand goods.
Currently, Team 3 - Anti-Smuggling Investigation Sub-Department is continuing to coordinate with relevant units to verify and handle cases according to the provisions of law.
