Nearly 6 billion VND worth of smuggled cigarettes discovered in a shipment of floor tiles, sofas... at Cat Lai port

A large quantity of smuggled cigarettes were disguised in Viglacera tiles, porcelain toilets, folding beds... and were discovered by the Customs Branch of Region II and other units during inspection - Screenshot: THAO THUONG

Two containers containing cigarettes disguised as tables, chairs, tiles... exported through Cat Lai port were recently discovered, stopped promptly by the Customs Department of Region II and criminally prosecuted.

According to information from the Customs Branch of Region II on May 7, the two shipments were registered with 2 export declarations (business export type) by An Khang Transport Service Trading Import Export Company Limited (29/16 Le Duc Tho, Ward 7, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City).

Specifically, for the shipment declared on March 27, An Khang Company declared that it was a shoe-changing chair, sofa, foldable bed, indoor rubber slippers, coffee table, and porcelain toilet; goods of Vietnamese origin, exported to Australia.

The declaration was classified into channel 2 (yellow channel) by the system. Upon actual inspection, in addition to the declared goods, Double Happiness and Esse Lights cigarettes were also discovered, totaling nearly 120,000 packs; the value of the infringing goods was nearly 3.4 billion VND.

As for the shipment in the declaration dated April 1, An Khang Company declared to export to Malaysia Viglacera brand glazed floor tiles, sofas, foldable beds, dustproof covers for sofas, and metal wardrobes.

Through inspection, the authorities also discovered undeclared goods such as Marlboro, Manchester, Double Happiness cigarettes ... Total of nearly 133,700 packs; value of the infringing goods was more than 2.5 billion VND.

According to the authorities, based on Article 188 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017), the crime is "smuggle"; An Khang Transport Service Trading Import Export Company Limited has shown signs of "smuggling " with a total value of infringing goods of more than 5.8 billion VND.

Saigon Port Customs Area 1 has issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case of "smuggling" committed by An Khang Transport Service Trading Import Export Company Limited at Cat Lai Port; transferring the case file to the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department for investigation and handling according to authority.

Smuggling and commercial fraud in disguise, sophisticated tricks

Previously, according to the Customs Department of Region II, smuggling and trade fraud in the management area have recently become complicated, with many sophisticated and complicated forms of tricks appearing.

Such as origin fraud, trademark counterfeiting, infringement of intellectual property rights, taking advantage of processing, export production, transit, and transshipment activities to avoid trade defense and economic protection measures, illegal transportation of goods, etc.

Therefore, the Customs Branch of Region II has issued many documents to strengthen the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phat-hien-thuoc-la-lau-gan-6-ti-dong-trong-lo-hang-gach-lat-nen-ghe-sofa-tai-cang-cat-lai-20250507104954759.htm