Typically, Team 3 coordinated with Team 7 - Anti-smuggling Investigation Department, Saigon Port Customs Area 1, Customs Control Team, Risk Management Department - Customs Area II; Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard, to inspect the shipment of VHP Import Export Company Limited in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to the declaration, the shipment consisted of 2 empty steel tanks used to store raw materials, measuring 4.1m x 1.8m, with a capacity of over 300 liters and a weight of 18,000 kg. Upon inspection, the units discovered that inside the 2 steel tanks were many cartons of cigarettes. The quantity included 84,000 packs of Marlboro cigarettes of unknown origin.
Cigarettes are a conditional export item. At the time of inspection, the representative of VHP Import Export Company Limited could not present documents and papers proving the origin and legality of the export of 84,000 packs of Marlboro cigarettes. The value of the shipment was determined to be more than 3 billion VND.
After the verification process, on June 25, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department issued Decision No. 02/QD-KTHS to initiate criminal proceedings for smuggling. Team 3 transferred the case to the Investigation Police Agency - Ho Chi Minh City Police to continue the investigation according to the law.
Next, Team 3 presided over and coordinated with Cai Mep Port Customs and PC03 - Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Police to physically inspect the goods contained in the container.
The shipment was declared independently by TTH Company on April 8, 2025 at Binh Hiep International Border Gate Customs ( Long An ) - Region XVII Customs Branch for transit from Cambodia through Vietnam to UAE. The declared goods name is cigarettes, Chesterfield brand, 100% new, total weight 21,120 kg.
At the time of inspection, TTH Company representative could not present documents related to the origin and industrial property rights of the goods.
The entire shipment of cigarettes was identified as counterfeit goods of a protected trademark without the permission of the trademark owner. The value of the goods is approximately over 48.6 billion dong.
Team 3 is continuing to coordinate with functional units to verify, investigate and handle the case according to the provisions of law.
Previously, Team 3 coordinated with Cai Mep Port Customs - Region XV Customs Branch (Ba Ria - Vung Tau) and the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes (PC03) - Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Police to inspect the goods contained in container TCNU2523270.
The goods declared on the declaration are Manchester cigarettes (Red-XK), worth 85,575 USD (about more than 2.1 billion VND). In fact, the shipment was exported by MV Import Export Company Limited to BS Cigarettes One Member Co., Ltd.
However, on the independent shipping declaration from Hai Phong port to Cai Mep port (for export abroad), the goods were declared as Tissue Paper, 100% new.
According to the Customs Department, the verification results show that Mr. HHP, Director of MV Company, registered ownership of a trademark also named Manchester for tobacco products in the United States. However, Mr. HHP used the ownership of the Manchester tobacco trademark in the United States to authorize BS Tobacco Company to produce a batch of cigarettes bearing the “Manchester - United Kingdom” trademark of JSS Tobacco Ltd. (London - United Kingdom). This shows signs of intentional counterfeiting/imitating of “Manchester - United Kingdom” cigarettes of JSS Tobacco Ltd. (London - United Kingdom).
Information, records and documents of the case were transferred to PC03 for further investigation according to authority.
Another cigarette smuggling case involving 253,140 packs of cigarettes was discovered at Cat Lai port, Ho Chi Minh City, worth about VND12 billion.
Saigon Port Customs Area I has transferred the case to the Investigation Police Agency - Ho Chi Minh City Police to continue investigating according to legal regulations.
Through investigation of the above cases, the Customs authority determined that Vietnam is currently a transit point for smuggling and exporting cigarettes abroad.
The destinations of cigarette shipments include many different countries such as: Australia, Canada, UAE, Malaysia, Israel. The demand for cigarettes is still high, so smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods are still complicated.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bat-giu-xu-ly-hang-loat-vu-buon-lau-thuoc-la-gia-tri-gia-hon-65-ty-dong-707367.html
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