Serious violations detected in the import of used machinery

The enterprise has no factory, no production activities but legalizes documents by falsely declaring the purpose of importing used machinery...

Recently, the Anti-smuggling Investigation Department (Customs Department) inspected and verified a number of enterprises importing used machinery to directly serve their production.

An imported used machine. Photo: CHQ

Through investigation, the Anti-smuggling Investigation Department discovered that from 2021 to 2025, an enterprise opened 19 import declarations for 325 used machines for production (metal cutting machines, wire cutting machines using electric sparks, punching machines using electric discharge method, electric pulse metal cutting machines, CNC drilling machines and CNC machining centers), with a total customs declaration value of over 18 billion VND.

The company then sold these 235 machines to 140 businesses, with a total value of over 23 billion VND, illegally profiting billions of VND.

Using the same method of falsely declaring the import of used machines for production purposes, another enterprise in 2025 opened 3 declarations to import 48 used machines, with a total declared value of 4.4 billion VND to customs. After that, the enterprise sold 13 machines to 13 enterprises, with a total value of 1.39 billion VND, illegally earning nearly 600 million VND.

The Anti-smuggling Investigation Department has issued two decisions to prosecute criminal cases on smuggling related to the above enterprise.

The above incident shows that some businesses have taken advantage of the state's policies in importing used machinery for commercial sale. This not only violates the state's import goods management policy but also creates an unhealthy business and competitive environment.

In addition, used machinery and equipment imported into Vietnam may also be outdated technology, not meeting requirements on capacity/performance, consumption of raw materials, energy and not meeting safety, energy saving and environmental protection standards as prescribed.

The Customs Department said it will continue to direct regional customs branches, control teams, post-clearance inspection teams, and risk management departments to strengthen detailed inspection of customs dossiers, physical inspection of goods; assess risks and consider post-clearance inspection for enterprises that have imported used machinery, equipment, and technological lines.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/phat-hien-vi-pham-nghiem-trong-trong-nhap-khau-may-moc-da-qua-su-dung-725403.html