Nearly 11,500 smuggling cases discovered nationwide

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Customs forces nationwide detected and handled nearly 11,500 cases of smuggling and trade fraud in the first seven months of this year, as heard at a press conference held by the General Department of Customs in Hanoi on August 28.

According to Deputy General Director of the Department Nguyen Van Can, illicitly cross-border transported commodities, tax evasion, smuggling, and trade fraud—especially counterfeit goods—remained complicated in the period.

Smuggled commodities included drugs, weapons, wild animals, wood, foreign currencies, imported wines, minerals and electronics. Localities with increases of smuggling and trade fraud in the period were Hanoi, Hai Phong, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Nghe An, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

The General Department of Customs plans to apply modern technologies in its management and inspection activities in order to uncover and prevent smuggling and unlawful conveyance of goods immediately, especially in border areas.

The agency will also focus on supervising commodities that negatively impact national security, public health and the environment, and enhance its management of a number of State preferential policies which can be exploited to seek profits illegally.-VNA