New tricks used by cross-border smugglers.
Recently, the smuggling situation at the Nam Can International Border Gate has been fraught with complex developments. Smugglers have employed many new tricks to evade authorities.
New tricks and schemes
The Nam Can International Border Gate is one of the key areas for trade and cross-border movement between Vietnam and Laos via National Highway 7. The area is surrounded by numerous unofficial crossings and trails along the border. Furthermore, due to its rugged mountainous terrain and sparse population, smugglers, especially those involved in drug and firework smuggling, often employ various tactics, making prevention efforts by authorities very difficult.
On February 14, 2025, Border Guard forces, in coordination with Customs and the PC04 Department of the Provincial Police, arrested two individuals: Bounhak SonLi Nhong (born in 1981, Lao nationality) and L.D.Q (born in 1998, Vietnamese nationality), for transporting 30kg of methamphetamine. Their modus operandi involved hiding the drugs near border markers in Ta Ca commune (Ky Son district), then entering the country in their vehicle through the Nam Can International Border Gate before exchanging the drugs for distribution.
For example, on November 4, 2024, during a patrol at the Nam Can International Border Gate, authorities apprehended five foreign nationals for illegally transporting narcotics.
Notably, at the scene, authorities discovered 70kg of ketamine hidden by the suspects in the driver's seat and in the fuel tank.
Major Le Van Trung, Deputy Commander in charge of operations at the Nam Can Border Gate Border Guard Station, said: "The methods of smugglers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often taking advantage of rugged terrain, darkness, or concealing goods in transport vehicles or personal luggage to evade authorities."
In particular, taking advantage of the fact that vehicles passing through border checkpoints cannot be screened, many smugglers of prohibited goods such as drugs and firecrackers have used tricks to modify the fuel tanks or chassis of cars to hide their goods. If law enforcement lacks expertise and sniffer dogs for inspection, it is very difficult to detect these items.
The cases uncovered show that the most common smuggled items and methods used by smugglers across this border are mainly firecrackers, wild animals and animal products, drugs, rare timber, and even organized illegal border crossings.
According to compiled data, from December 15, 2024 to May 14, 2025, authorities at the Nam Can International Border Gate apprehended four cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border; and five cases of using expired transport vehicles. Border guards also detected and apprehended one individual involved in organizing illegal entry and exit for others. In addition, administrative penalties were imposed in 19 cases involving 23 individuals, resulting in nearly 50 million VND collected for the State budget.
Strengthening coordinated control
According to Mr. Duong Cong Ly, Head of the Customs Team at Nam Can International Border Gate, in addition to the tricks used to smuggle prohibited goods such as drugs and firecrackers, recently, taking advantage of the high price of gold in Vietnam, many individuals in the country have been trying to connect with individuals in Laos to buy cheap gold bars and gold jewelry, then smuggling them into Vietnam through border gates.
At the Nam Can International Border Gate, although no gold smugglers have been apprehended yet, several suspected individuals are attempting to establish a smuggling route. Specifically, since the beginning of this year, authorities have detected many individuals entering Vietnam carrying unusually large quantities of gold jewelry. However, upon inspection, it was found to be counterfeit gold.
"According to Circular 52/2017/TT-BTC dated May 19, 2017, issued by the Ministry of Finance, individuals entering or exiting the country with passports or travel documents carrying gold bars or gold jewelry with a total weight of 300g or more must declare it to customs. Once the domestic gold price rises sharply, creating a large difference compared to the gold price in Laos, smugglers will certainly resort to any means to smuggle gold into Vietnam," Mr. Ly stated.
Mr. Ly also emphasized that, given the complexities of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border at the Nam Can International Border Gate, the Border Guard, Customs, Nam Can Commune Police, and other forces have coordinated closely, using scanning equipment and sniffer dogs for inspection.Assigning officers to regularly patrol and monitor the area.The management unit aims to prevent, deter, detect, and apprehend traffickers.Smuggling, illegal transportation of goods across borders, and other violations of the law.
According to our findings, the Provincial Border Guard Command and the Nghe An Provincial Customs Department (now the Customs Sub-Department of Region XI, responsible for Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces) have also signed a cooperation agreement. This has fostered unity and cooperation, ensuring the fulfillment of each side's assigned functions, duties, and powers in combating various types of crime. This has contributed to ensuring border security and stabilizing trade between the two border gates.
