Police captain 'led smuggling ring' of more than 200 billion VND

On September 23, the actions of Tien, former officer of Team 7 of the Police Department for Prevention of Economic Crimes, Corruption, and Smuggling (PC03) and 25 others were mentioned in the investigation conclusion that Ho Chi Minh City Police had just completed and transferred to the same-level Procuracy to propose prosecution for the crime.Smuggleaccording to Clause 4, Article 188, Penal Code.

Authorities allege that Tien, during his work, knew that the State allowed the import of used machinery, equipment, and production lines to serve the production of the importing enterprise (Decision 18 of the Prime Minister). Taking advantage of this policy, Tien agreed with the owners to import equipment and machinery to Vietnam for them through the companies he established. The owners had to pay Tien 78 to 90 million VND for each imported container, and Tien was responsible for bribing the Customs inspection officers and other expenses.

Ho Chi Minh City Customs discovered a container of old, dilapidated electronics (import prohibited), July 2021. Photo: Quoc Thang

To carry out the smuggling, Tien hired a number of people to establish 47 companies and used the legal entities of these businesses to carry out import procedures, customs clearance and transactions.

According to the provisions of Decision 18, enterprises are only allowed to import used machinery, equipment, and technological lines that are no more than 10 years old or must have an import authorization document if importing under authorization. To approve the import of goods, the procedure must include inspection certificates concluding that the goods meet the conditions.

However, the owners all imported machinery and equipment that had been manufactured for over 10 years at low prices to resell for high profits. To qualify for import, Tien directed his staff to edit the year of manufacture of the goods on the documents, falsify and create many false documents. This police officer also colluded with Dai Minh Viet Appraisal Joint Stock Company, created minutes of goods appraisal, issued certificates with false content, and provided them to the Customs.

On May 24, 2021, Tien was discovered by the police while he was carrying out procedures to smuggle 7 containers of machinery and equipment at Cat Lai port, Thu Duc city. Continuing to search warehouses in Binh Tan and Binh Thanh districts... the police seized many related evidences. More than a week later, Tien and 4 others were arrested.

The investigation agency determined that from September 2019 to May 2021, Tien and his accomplices used the legal status of 45/47 companies, opened 1,146 sets of customs declarations, and successfully smuggled 1,280 containers of goods into Vietnam, with a total value of more than VND 211 billion. To conceal his actions, each time he cleared customs, Tien directed his employees to use a different company legal entity.

In relation to this line, Vo Van Dong, 57 years old, former Police Lieutenant Colonel (former officer of the Anti-Smuggling Team, Economic Police Department) is said to be the one who actively assisted Tien in selling imported goods. In addition, he was also accused of helping Tien successfully import 6 containers of used goods with a total value of nearly 1 billion VND. However, during the investigation, Mr. Dong did not admit to his actions.

Tien and his accomplices confessed that they were assisted by a number of officers from the Cargo Procedures Team of the Saigon Port Customs Branch, Region I, Ho Chi Minh City, and other individuals. The investigation agency is collecting evidence and continuing to clarify the case for handling.

Authorities are also investigating signsTax evasionof some employees of Dai Minh Viet Appraisal Joint Stock Company./.