Increased pressure from import-export activities and passenger volume
According to the Customs Branch of Region I, 2025 marks a strong development of import-export activities in the management area. Total import-export turnover reached 94.4 billion USD, up 123.7% over the same period last year; the number of documents processed exceeded 1.85 million documents, while the budget revenue reached 37.3 billion VND.
Along with that, the number of passengers entering and exiting through border gates managed by the unit also exceeded 13 million.
The rapid increase in international trade, transportation and travel activities has put great pressure on the management and control of customs forces.
In that context, smugglers and trade scammers are increasingly taking advantage of open policies, administrative procedure reform, as well as the development of e-commerce, express delivery and social networks to conceal violations.
In reality, smuggling tricks are increasingly sophisticated, organized, and even have transnational elements. Some subjects take advantage of international air routes and post routes to illegally transport goods, including high-value items such as gold, consumer goods, goods of unknown origin.
Identifying new tricks, strengthening key control
In 2025, the customs control force has proactively developed and implemented many plans and topics of in-depth combat, focusing on high-risk routes and areas.
Coordination with other functional forces such as the Police, Border Guard and related agencies has been strengthened, creating a combined strength in preventing and combating smuggling and trade fraud.
One of the "hot spots" that has emerged in recent times is the illegal transportation of gold by air. The reason comes from the large gap between domestic and world gold prices, creating attractive profits for smugglers.
A common trick of subjects is to hide gold on their person, in clothes, shoes, electronic devices or mix it in hand-carried baggage to deceive the authorities.
In reality, many typical cases have been recorded. For example, on June 25, 2025, customs forces at Noi Bai airport discovered a subject of Taiwanese nationality (China) transporting nearly 2kg of gold, cleverly disguised in the camera lens.
Then, on October 14, 2025, another passenger was discovered hiding nearly 900 grams of gold in a hand-carried carry-on bag without reporting to customs.
Along with smuggling goods, drug crimes continue to be a major threat on air routes and for express delivery.
From December 15, 2024 to November 30, 2025, the Customs Branch of Region I presided over and coordinated the arrest of 30 cases of illegal drug transportation, successfully fighting 5 key projects.
Many major cases were busted, such as the discovery of more than 3.1 kg of ketamine hidden in candy in Long Bien on May 31.5; or the case of nearly 5.5 kg of synthetic drugs at Noi Bai airport on June 27.
Customs also successfully blocked a shipment of about 15kg of drugs from Germany to Vietnam. At the same time, 2.2 kg of marijuana was discovered in a box of cakes and milk sent from Thailand.
Resolutely and synchronously maintaining market discipline
In the coming time, especially during the peak period at the end of the year and the Lunar New Year, the Customs Branch of Region I will continue to identify the task of combating smuggling and trade fraud as the focus and continuous.
The customs force will maintain strict control at border gates, focusing on goods and areas with high potential risks, while enhancing the application of technology and modernizing management.
Promoting inter-sectoral coordination, improving the quality of staff and civil servants and promoting the effectiveness of projects and business plans are considered key solutions to maintain market discipline and order, contributing to protecting consumer rights and a healthy business environment.
With the achieved results and clear orientation in the coming time, the Customs Branch of Region I affirmed its determination to continue to tighten control, not allowing smuggling and trade fraud to take advantage of loopholes, thereby actively contributing to state management and socio-economic development.
