Hanoi has stepped up its fight against air cargo fraud, which has become increasingly sophisticated and complicated in its methods, as well as the illegal transportation of goods by airlines.

Since the beginning of 2024, the Hanoi Customs Department has detected and processed 622 cases, fined nearly VND44 billion (US$1.8 million), and arrested eight people for smuggling e-cigarettes, foreign currency, gold bars, and other items. 

Customs officials inspect goods at an airport warehouse. Photo: Nguyen Phong/The Hanoi Times

According to the report of the Hanoi Steering Committee 389, in the first seven months of 2024, the main goods smuggled by air were high-value or even prohibited goods, goods that could only be imported or exported under certain conditions, or goods that posed a threat to public health and the environment, wildlife, or goods of false origin.

To evade the authorities, the perpetrators used one bill of lading but opened many declarations; even the consignee information was changed, and when detected, they refused to accept the goods or left them behind. Or they set up fake companies to handle customs procedures.

The perpetrators also hid or mixed prohibited goods, such as drugs and rare and valuable wildlife products, into other packages. Then, they take advantage of the lack of legal knowledge of passengers entering Vietnam, such as overseas Vietnamese, workers returning home, international students, and people on business trips abroad, and use them as mules.   

The Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch reports that as of May 15, the unit has identified and dealt with 27 cases. In terms of narcotics, the unit detained 23 cases containing more than 148 kg of various drugs in the first half of 2024.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Customs Hoang Quoc Quang said smuggling and trade fraud, especially air and mail fraud, are complicated in Hanoi, with many sophisticated and unpredictable tricks.

"Therefore, in the last few months of the year, to combat and prevent delinquency in air and postal services, along with market inspection and supervision, we will step up strengthening examination and post-clearance inspection activities, strictly control business types and services prone to smuggling and trade fraud, and raise awareness," Quang said.

Nguyen Manh Quyen, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee and Head of the city's Steering Committee 389 (against trade fraud) said that in the second half of 2024, functional forces will continue to forecast and grasp the situation according to the fields and areas under their management.

"The committee will focus on combating, detecting and handling violations involving high-value goods, and urge all people not to engage in or support smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods," Quyen stressed.