The Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department under the General Department of Customs (GDC) said smuggling tended to ease in the first quarter of 2011 but a rise was seen in important commodities like coal, petroleum and cigarette.
Illegal export of petroleum and coal is still complex
The General Department of Customs said in the first quarter of 2011 3,641 cases of smuggling were unearthed, taking back VND123.1 billion.
Notably, illegal exportation of petroleum products tended to rebound in the first months of the year. In the first three months of 2011, market authorities captured 8,626 litters of petroleum products illegally exported to neighbouring nations. However, the activity tended to ease after the Government decided to add VND2,900 to each litre of gasoline sold in the country from February 23. However, anti-smuggling forces warned that this phenomenon will recur strongly if there are a wide differential in prices in Vietnam and its neighbours.
Customs officers also seized smuggled coal on sea routes. Smugglers use wooden boats capable of carrying 70 - 100 tonnes to carry coal at night in complex areas to stay away from the eyes of customs authorities. Illegally exported coal mainly sourced from mines in Quang Nam province - the largest coal reserve in the country - is destined to China. Smugglers primarily use transport invoices with ports of call in central regions but they will change directions halfway to head to China.
On March 12, 2011, anti-smuggling authorities joined hands with sea guards and Quang Ninh police to arrest the boat with number plate HP 2781 carrying about 1,500 tonnes of dust coal worth VND1.5 billion without valid invoices and statements. Smugglers take advantage of shortcomings in customs procedures to traffic.
Apart from roads and sea routes, contrabandists also use airways and international postal services to traffic smuggled or banned goods. They set up smuggled goods in forms of duty-free goods, gifts, etc. Main items are clothes, cosmetics, watches, apparel accessories, digital cameras, camcorders, laptops, pharmaceuticals, gold, and foreign currencies.
Intercept contrabands to facilitate domestic production
An official from the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department said the department will intensify activities to prevent smuggling and trade fraud on hot border zones, with special attention paid to popular commodities like gasoline, coal and consumer goods. Successful prevention of smuggling and trade fraud will help ease inflation and boost domestic production.
In the second quarter of 2011, anti-smuggling authorities will exaggerate activities to foil illegal export of ores and check seaports. The department will propose the Government to amend the Decree No. 107/2002/ND-CP dated December 23, 2002 on operating scopes of customs [authorities], anti-smuggling coordination, illegal cross-border transportation, and other violations. The department will also submit recommendations to heal shortcomings in management of imported and exported goods at seaports to the Ministry of Finance.
Le Hien
Vietnamese
