Combating gold smuggling, counterfeit goods and drugs on key routes

(Chinhphu.vn) - Trade fraud and drug trafficking are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so customs forces across the country have simultaneously increased inspection and supervision. In October alone, nearly 1,800 violations were detected, with the value of infringing goods estimated at more than VND1,856 billion.

In October alone, 1,793 violations were detected, with the estimated value of infringing goods reaching more than VND1,856 billion.

Customs strengthens anti-smuggling of gold and currency

In October 2025, the complicated developments of the world and domestic gold markets with large price differences have increased the risk of smuggling and illegal transportation of gold and currency across the border. Roads and inland waterways in the southern border area bordering Cambodia (Tinh Bien, Khanh Binh - An Giang, Bo Y - Gia Lai) and bordering Laos (Lao Bao - Quang Tri) have become hot spots.

‎The subjects often hide gold and money in personal luggage or means of transport. On air routes, the situation of hiding gold and money in people or carry-on luggage is common, especially on flights from Taiwan to Vietnam.

In addition, the exploitation of transshipment, transshipment, and transit to transport counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights continues at border gates with China, Laos, and Cambodia. Common methods include false declaration, failure to declare product trademarks, mixing infringing goods with legal goods, or taking advantage of simplified customs declaration procedures.

The sea route continues to account for the largest proportion of violations with 1,021/1,793 cases, equivalent to 56.9% of the total number of detected cases, concentrated at major ports under the Customs Branches of Regions II, III, XII. Many violations are related to import conditions, standards, regulations and product labels.

At Hai Phong port, authorities discovered many containers of used goods such as clothes, household appliances, and machinery, which are on the list of banned imports.

Road traffic recorded 542 violations, accounting for 30.2% of the total number of cases, mainly on the Vietnam-China and Vietnam-Cambodia borders. Subjects took advantage of preferential policies for border residents to smuggle high-value goods such as gold leaf, foreign currency, phones, cigarettes, and frozen foods. Trading in firecrackers, white sugar, and pesticides still took place in the central provinces and the Vietnam-Laos region.

The aviation sector also saw 105 violations, worth an estimated VND122 billion, up 39 cases compared to September 2025. Violations were concentrated at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, and Da Nang international airports and express delivery companies such as FedEx, DHL, and UPS.

The main method is to take advantage of non-commercial forms, consigning goods, using fake identification documents, fake addresses, hiring people to receive on their behalf to conceal acts of smuggling, transporting goods, currency and drugs.

Strengthening control, preparing for peak Tet Binh Ngo 2026

Faced with the complicated developments, the Customs Department has issued many warnings and professional guidance documents, requiring the strengthening of prevention, detection and handling of smuggling. This agency also directed the branches to review and self-inspect their professional activities to improve control efficiency and speed up the process of preparing customs control professional records.

The Customs Department has advised the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government an Action Plan to combat, prevent and repel smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods. At the same time, as the Standing Agency of the Ministry of Finance's Steering Committee 389, the Customs Department has coordinated to perfect the National Steering Committee 389.

In addition, the Plan for the peak period against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2026 was also issued. The Customs Department strengthened coordination with the Cambodian Customs in handling and verifying outstanding cases and successfully organized the 6th Vietnam - Cambodia Border Customs Conference, and prepared to summarize the Mekong Dragon Campaign Phase VII.

As a result of handling violations and fighting against drugs, from September 15 to October 14, 2025, the Customs force discovered, arrested and handled 1,793 cases, the value of infringing goods was estimated at VND 1,856 billion, collecting VND 46.1 billion for the budget. The Customs agency prosecuted 1 case and transferred 7 cases to other agencies for prosecution.

Accumulated from December 15, 2024 to October 14, 2025, the whole industry discovered 15,121 cases, the value of infringing goods was about VND 19,551 billion, the budget collection was VND 710.33 billion, of which 16 cases were prosecuted and 100 cases were transferred to other agencies.

Regarding the fight against drugs, in October, the Customs presided over and coordinated with the Police and Border Guard to arrest 13 cases/19 subjects, seizing 24.94 kg of various drugs, including 13.39 kg of heroin, 9.55 kg of ketamine and 2 kg of synthetic drugs.

Accumulated from the end of 2024 to mid-October 2025, the Customs force detected 165 cases/213 subjects, seized more than 2.3 tons of drugs, including 67.3 kg of heroin, 1,516 kg of ketamine, 365 kg of synthetic drugs, and more than 60,000 other drug pills.

Mr. Minh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chong-buon-lau-vang-hang-gia-va-ma-tuy-tren-cac-tuyen-trong-diem-102251111121443011.htm