Strengthening anti-smuggling control at Nam Can International Border Gate on the occasion of Tet

In the last days of the year, at Nam Can International Border Gate in Ky Son District, all kinds of cargo vehicles are busy waiting for customs clearance. The main goods are iron ore, barite ore imported for business, imported in transit from Laos to Vietnam and other items such as animal feed for dairy cows exported by Vietnamese enterprises to Laos also increased, bran, straw, hay, fertilizer, machinery and equipment are brought to Laos.

With a large number of vehicles and large quantities of goods, smugglers often use sophisticated tricks to deceive authorities, such as hiding and mixing goods in transport vehicles.

Not to mention, due to the geographical characteristics of the Nam Can International Border Gate, there are many secondary border gates, openings, and a system of trails on both sides of the border; rugged mountainous terrain, and sparse population, so the development of illegal trading and transportation of goods is relatively complicated.

The people living near the border gate area are mainly ethnic minorities, have difficult economic lives, and often visit relatives in Laos, so the potential risk of illegal transportation of drugs through the border gate is very high..

Mr. Duong Cong Ly - Head of Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch said: At the time before Lunar New Year, the flow of people and means of transport increases rapidly, criminals take advantage of this situation to trade in smuggled goods and drugs. Recently, on November 4, 2024, Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch coordinated with Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station to arrest 5 Laotian subjects who were bringing a large amount of drugs to Vietnam.

These subjects transported 70 ketamine packages weighing about 70 kg, 1 car with Lao license plate and many related evidences, worth about 70 billion VND. The case is currently under investigation.

To effectively combat smuggling and trade fraud, the authorities have strengthened inspection and control to promptly detect and handle violations, such as using baggage scanners and sniffer dogs to check for prohibited goods, etc.

Customs forces, Nam Can International Border Guard Station, Ky Son District Police, and Nam Can Commune authorities coordinate in the work of controlling smuggling, trade fraud, and drug prevention and control. Strengthen post-clearance inspection, check the origin and origin of goods labels, and prevent trade protection violations.

Accordingly, at Nam Can International Border Gate, the declaration, reception, processing of information and making of customs clearance decisions are carried out with a fairly high level of automation.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Duc - Head of the Nam Can International Border Guard Station added: Due to the increased demand for visiting relatives and the number of visitors completing immigration procedures through Nam Can International Border Gate during Tet. The unit has done a good job of completing immigration procedures; guiding visitors to complete procedures, move in an orderly manner, and follow the prescribed flow.

In addition, Nghe An Border Guard regularly coordinates with Lao Border Guard to patrol and strictly control border gates and border areas to prevent smuggling.

Mr. Tho Ba Re - Vice Chairman of Ky Son District People's Committee said: In addition to Nam Can International Border Gate, Ky Son District also has 11 trails and openings to Laos, including 2 river openings. In order to limit smuggling and prohibited goods, the district has directed 11 border communes to coordinate with 7 border posts in the area to propagate and mobilize people not to participate in trading and carrying prohibited goods. For people visiting relatives between the two countries, they are required to complete procedures at Nam Can International Border Gate, not to go through trails and openings.