Smuggling activities at the end of the year are complicated
According to authorities, the end of the year is often the time when cross-border smuggling activities increase and become more complicated. Commonly violated items include poultry breeds, seafood, frozen foods, household appliances and firecrackers.
In this situation, the Steering Committee 389 of Quang Ninh province, with the Provincial Customs Department as the Standing Agency, has requested to strengthen control at border areas, border gates, trails and openings. Closely monitor to prevent smuggling, especially firecrackers and essential goods for the Lunar New Year.
Following the direction of the Quang Ninh Customs Department, Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch has deployed teams and working groups to strictly control key goods and goods with high domestic consumption demand, preventing the emergence of hot spots for smuggling and illegal transportation of goods through border gates and openings. Closely coordinate with agencies, units and functional forces in the area (Police, Border Guard, Market Management, Quarantine) to exchange information and patrol and control to promptly detect, arrest and strictly handle acts of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods within and outside the scope of customs operations.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Ha - Deputy Head of Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch - said: At the end of the year, the demand for border residents to cross at Cau Bac Luan 1 border gate has increased, the unit is increasing both personnel and equipment to better control and prevent smuggling during the entry and exit of people and border residents. Since the beginning of the year, Mong Cai Customs has presided over the handling of 82 cases/82 subjects, with a total value of 2.25 billion VND (an increase of 26.15% in the number of cases and 17.5% in value compared to the same period in 2023). Violations are mainly related to cosmetics of all kinds, children's toys, counterfeit goods, and food.
In the whole province, since the beginning of 2024, Quang Ninh Customs Department has presided over the arrest of 222 cases, worth 7,789 billion VND (an increase of 11.55% in the number of cases and an increase of 32.8% in value compared to the same period in 2023); Coordinated the arrest of 100 cases outside the industry, worth 14,011 billion VND, an increase of 69.4% in the number of cases and an increase of 501% in value compared to the same period in 2023. Transferred recommendations for prosecution: 5 cases/6 subjects.
Mobilizing total strength on the sea route
Customs Control Team No. 2 is responsible for the sea route in Quang Ninh province, the unit is currently managing 2 watercraft. On the sea route from Ha Long to Mong Cai, the functional forces continue to strengthen patrols and control the area, so smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border is controlled, no lines, groups, or hot spots arise.
Since the beginning of the year, Customs Control Team No. 2 has arrested 13 cases/11 subjects, worth 1,171 billion VND, and coordinated with forces outside the industry to arrest 9 cases/9 subjects, worth more than 740 million VND. The cases mainly violated the origin, labeling of goods, illegal transportation, and infringement of intellectual property rights.
These comprehensive measures have contributed to the Quang Ninh Provincial Customs Department successfully completing its planned targets. As of December 11, the Quang Ninh Provincial Customs Department had collected nearly VND17,190 billion in state budget revenue (138% of the target assigned by the Ministry of Finance and 132.2% of the target assigned by the province).
