A type of drug that sniffer dogs cannot detect has appeared, requiring modern screening machines

On January 9, at a press conference to inform about 10 outstanding events of the customs sector in 2023 and some key tasks in 2024, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs ( Ministry of Finance ) Nguyen Van Tho said that this year the sector continues to promote digital customs.

According to Mr. Tho, the current digital customs system has facilitated trade activities and provided maximum support to businesses. However, to further facilitate people and businesses, the customs sector will continue to promote digital transformation.

Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Tho provided some information on the work of preventing and combating smuggling and trade fraud.

One of the most important digital transformation solutions that the customs industry is focusing on implementing today is digital transformation in the field of customs operations, with the core content being to redesign the overall customs operations process and build an information technology system to implement digital customs.

In addition, regarding the budget task, Mr. Nguyen Van Tho said that the General Department of Customs has developed programs, plans, and solutions to implement right from the beginning of the year and directed units to be determined to carry out this task.

Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Tho also emphasized that the important task this year is to fight against smuggling and trade fraud. In particular, the fight against and prevention of drugs is the focus.

"We have determined that drug trafficking and transportation activities are increasingly sophisticated in their methods and tactics, and their locations are constantly changing. Based on that requirement, the General Department has directed specialized units to develop a plan from the beginning of the year for implementation," said the leader of the General Department of Customs.

Modern scanners needed to detect new drugs

In addition to proactively collecting information and understanding the area, Mr. Nguyen Van Tho said the customs sector will increase equipment and screening machines to make drug prevention activities more effective.

Currently, the customs sector is in the process of equipping a large number of luggage scanners at land border gates, airport gates, and seaports, ensuring the screening of goods to detect new types of drugs.

"Currently, drugs are hidden in sophisticated ways. Some types of drugs cannot be detected by sniffer dogs because they are hidden in machinery or in sealed molds. Without a scanner, they cannot be detected," said Mr. Nguyen Van Tho.

Once the methods and tricks are understood, the customs sector will coordinate with the police, border guards, and coast guard forces to fight and destroy the networks. "If we arrest at the border gate, we will only catch the transporters, so we must coordinate with other forces to destroy the trafficking network," said the leader of the General Department of Customs.

According to the report of the General Department of Customs, in 2023, the entire customs sector presided over and coordinated with the police and border guards to detect and arrest: 263 cases/303 subjects related to drugs. The seized evidence was over 2.8 tons of various types of drugs./.

10 outstanding events of the customs industry in 2023

1. Vietnam Customs in coordination with the World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully hosted the 2023 Technology Conference and Exhibition with more than 1,000 delegates from 95 countries.

2. The customs sector's drug prevention and control work has achieved impressive results, seizing nearly 2.8 tons of various drugs and 277 subjects.

3. The 5th Mekong Dragon was co-initiated by Vietnam Customs and China Customs.

4. Actively and proactively implement the Customs Digital Transformation Plan by 2025, notably building an information technology system to implement digital customs to meet professional requirements in customs clearance.

5. For the 7th consecutive year, the General Department of Customs has maintained its leading position in administrative reform among the General Departments and equivalent units under the Ministry of Finance; implementing 10 targets for administrative reform, simplifying customs procedures, and facilitating trade in 2023.

6. Promoting international cooperation and integration in the customs sector has brought about many clear and substantial results, contributing to affirming the role and position of Vietnam Customs in international forums.

7. The customs sector successfully organized 3 national conferences on dissemination and implementation of customs inspection and supervision, tax management, and post-clearance inspection in the new situation with the participation of nearly 8,000 civil servants and public employees in the whole sector.

8. Accelerate the implementation of Phase II of the Program to support and encourage businesses to comply with customs laws, increase the number of businesses participating in the program by 36%, complete and exceed the target set in the 2023 administrative reform task of the customs sector.

9. Strengthen and improve discipline and administrative order in the performance of public duties, associated with specifying 980 violations and sanctions in all areas of Customs operations.

10. Press and propaganda work is constantly innovated in content and form, fully and promptly reflecting all aspects of the General Department of Customs' activities, actively contributing to the overall achievements of the industry.

According to nld.com.vn

Source: https://nld.com.vn/xuat-hien-loai-ma-tuy-cho-nghiep-vu-khong-the-phat-hien-can-may-soi-chieu-hien-dai-196240109145150786.htm

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