Using social networks and e-commerce platforms for smuggling
On July 8, Mr. Ho Xuan Hoe - Director of Quang Tri Department of Industry and Trade - said that although security and order are basically stable, smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods are still complicated on many routes and in many fields.
In addition to transporting smuggled goods through trails and open paths, subjects also take advantage of e-commerce and social networks to advertise and trade in counterfeit goods, fake goods, and goods of unknown origin, causing difficulties for detection and handling.
According to the Steering Committee 389 of Quang Tri province, import and export and transit activities of goods through border gates in the area mainly include agricultural and forestry products, construction materials, agricultural products, ore, gypsum, fertilizers and consumer goods.
However, on the land border, especially along National Highway 9, National Highway 1A and the banks of the Se Pon River, the subjects still take advantage of the rugged terrain, trails, open paths and dark nights to illegally transport drugs, sugar, consumer goods and many other prohibited goods into the inland.
In the border gate area, the main violations are incorrect declaration of the type and quantity of goods or trading and transporting goods without invoices or documents in order to evade taxes.
For the sea route, the inspection of ships entering and leaving the country is maintained regularly. However, functional forces still record the situation of illegal trading and transportation of drugs, explosives and smuggled goods on a small scale.
In the domestic market, the trading of prohibited goods and smuggled goods still takes place. Notably, many subjects are switching to using social networks and e-commerce platforms to advertise and trade in counterfeit goods, fake goods, and goods of unknown origin to evade inspection by functional agencies.
Increase control of routes
In the first 6 months of the year, functional forces of Quang Tri province discovered and arrested 1,000 cases with 1,239 violators; handled 895 administrative violations and prosecuted 156 criminal cases with 300 subjects.
The total amount of administrative violation fines, tax arrears, sales of confiscated goods and the value of confiscated exhibits reached more than 73.5 billion VND. Of which, administrative violation fines were more than 13.6 billion VND; tax arrears were more than 16 billion VND; sales of confiscated goods were more than 4 billion VND; the value of unprocessed exhibits was more than 13.1 billion VND and the value of violating goods was estimated at more than 26.6 billion VND.
The Provincial Police force alone discovered 356 cases with 515 subjects; Border Guards discovered 59 cases with 63 subjects; Sub-Department of Customs Region IX discovered 39 cases; Sub-Department of Market Management discovered 138 cases; The Tax Department conducted in-depth inspections of 367 violations.
Exhibits seized included 1.5 bricks of heroin, more than 5.2kg of powdered synthetic drugs, 45,449 synthetic drug pills, more than 11.3kg of methamphetamine, 2 guns, 149 gun accessory details, 7 military ammunition and nearly 1.5 tons of firecrackers.
According to Mr. Ho Xuan Hoe, in the coming time, the Provincial Steering Committee 389 will continue to focus on controlling border routes, border gates, trails, open paths and the Se Pon River area; strengthen inspection of warehouses, express delivery post offices, e-commerce activities and livestream sales. Police, Border Guard, Customs, Market Management, Tax and Forest Protection forces will promote information sharing, coordinate to handle inter-sectoral cases, contributing to improving the effectiveness of combating smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the area.
