The General Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance has sent a directive to regional customs branches requiring tighter control and enhanced anti-smuggling measures to prevent fuel smuggling across the country’s borders amid volatility in global energy markets.
The total estimated value of confiscated goods exceeded VNĐ31.35 trillion (US$1.23 billion), marking a 12.5 per cent increase in cases and a 151.3 per cent surge in the value compared to the previous year.
This move is due to booming import-export activities via these border gates as domestic consumer demand for Tết holiday tends to increase. That leads to complicated developments in cross-border smuggling and trade frauds.
The fight against cross-border smuggling is complicated by several
factors including wrongdoings in anti-trafficking operations, officials
admitted at a conference yesterday.
