Customs strengthens control, prepares for peak Tet Binh Ngo 2026

Faced with the complicated developments of trade fraud, gold smuggling, counterfeit goods and drugs, Customs forces across the country are simultaneously tightening inspection and supervision on all routes and areas. In October 2025 alone, the entire industry detected nearly 1,800 violations, with an estimated value of goods of more than VND 1,856 billion, demonstrating the industry's drastic efforts in protecting economic sovereignty and the safety of the domestic market.

Hot border and air routes

In October 2025, the domestic and foreign gold markets fluctuated strongly, the large price difference caused the smuggling of gold and currency across the border to increase. Road and waterway routes in Tinh Bien, Khanh Binh ( An Giang ), Bo Y (Gia Lai) or Lao Bao (Quang Tri) became "hot spots". Subjects often hide gold and money in personal luggage, means of transport or carry them on their person on flights from Taiwan to Vietnam.

At the same time, the situation of taking advantage of the transit, transshipment and transit modes to transport counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights still occurs at the borders with China, Laos and Cambodia. Common tricks are false declaration, failure to declare trademarks, mixing infringing goods with legal goods or taking advantage of simple procedures to bypass authorities.

The sea route continues to be the most complicated area, accounting for nearly 57% of the total number of detected cases, mainly at ports under the Customs Branches of Regions II, III, XII with 1,021/1,793 cases. Many containers containing clothes, household appliances, old machinery - items on the list of prohibited imports were detected at Hai Phong port.

The road route also recorded more than 540 violations, concentrated in the Vietnam - China and Vietnam - Cambodia border areas. Subjects took advantage of preferential policies for border residents to smuggle gold leaves, foreign currency, phones, cigarettes, frozen foods, etc. Trading in firecrackers, white sugar, and pesticides still occurred in the Central region and the Vietnam - Laos border.

Notably, the aviation sector also experienced an outbreak in October with 105 violations, worth more than VND122 billion, a sharp increase compared to September. The incidents mainly occurred at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang airports and international express delivery companies such as FedEx, DHL, UPS. Many subjects used sophisticated tricks such as forging documents, hiring others to receive on their behalf, using virtual addresses or hiding under the guise of non-commercial goods to conceal their smuggling and illegal transportation of gold, currency and drugs.

Preparing for the peak of Tet Binh Ngo 2026

In order to cope with the increasingly complicated situation, the Customs Department has issued a series of directives, warnings and professional guidance documents, requiring units to strengthen prevention, detection and timely handling of smuggling and trade fraud. At the same time, the industry also organizes self-inspection of operations, reviews procedures to improve monitoring efficiency and complete customs control records.

The Customs Department has advised the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government an Action Plan to combat, prevent and repel smuggling, counterfeit goods and trade fraud. As the standing agency of the Ministry of Finance's Steering Committee 389, the Customs Department actively coordinates to strengthen the National Steering Committee 389, and at the same time implements the Plan for peak anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2026.

At the same time, the industry also promoted international cooperation, especially with Cambodian Customs in handling and verifying outstanding cases, successfully organized the 6th Vietnam - Cambodia Border Customs Conference and prepared to summarize the 7th phase of the Mekong Dragon Campaign.

As a result of handling violations and fighting against drugs, from September 15 to October 14, 2025, the Customs force nationwide arrested 1,793 violations, the value of violated goods was estimated at VND 1,856 billion, collected VND 46.1 billion for the budget, prosecuted 1 case and transferred 7 cases to other agencies for criminal handling.

Accumulated from December 15, 2024 to October 14, 2025, the whole industry discovered 15,121 cases, the value of infringing goods was nearly VND 19,551 billion, the budget revenue was VND 710 billion, of which 16 cases were prosecuted and 100 cases were transferred to the investigation agency.

In the field of drug prevention alone, in October, Customs coordinated with the Police and Border Guard to arrest 13 cases, 19 subjects, and seized 24.94 kg of drugs, including 13.39 kg of heroin, 9.55 kg of ketamine, and 2 kg of synthetic drugs.

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 1.5 tons of ketamine, 67.3 kg of heroin, 365 kg of synthetic drugs and more than 60,000 other drug pills.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/hai-quan-tang-cuong-kiem-soat-chuan-bi-cao-diem-tet-binh-ngo-2026-10395345.html