PROHIBITED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IMPORTS ARE SEIZED

VCN- On 3rd May 2017, the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport said that a shipment of prohibited medical equipment imports was discovered when perpetrators camouflaged them in goods in transit.

prohibited medical equipment imports are seized
A used CT scanner was camouflaged in goods in transit.

The shipment was found and seized by the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in coordination with the Department of Anti-smuggling and Investigation under the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Police Crime Department on smuggling (C74) under the Ministry of Public Security and the Police Crime Investigation Division of Economic Management and Positions (PC46) under the Police of Ho Chi Minh City.

Reportedly, this shipment was detected by the competent force when it was in transit to Cambodia through Xa Mat border gate. The prohibited medical equipment imports included a used CT scanner (declared as Japanese origin, new 100%) with 10 bales weighing 5.7 tons and worth over 3.2 billion vnd.

Con Ong Transport Joint Stock Company which was located at 39B Truong Son Street, Ward 4, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City directed by Mr. Dinh Huu Thanh (born in 1975), residing in Cam Thuong Ward, Hai Duong City declared the imported goods as 100% new in order to avoid the application for permits of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

A few days ago, the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport also issued a decision on criminal prosecution for smuggling of Olympic Science and Technology Company Limited at 1/54 Lu Gia, Ward 15, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City directed by Mr. Nguyen Kien Hung, born in 1987, ID No. 385384231 issued on 8th January 2016 at 423 Hamlet 1, Gia Rai Town, Gia Rai District, Bac Lieu province due to the import of medical equipment of 50 electronic heart measuring machines with wrong declaration of goods in order to avoid the application for import license of the Ministry of Health with the value of the shipment of over 500 million vnd.

According to the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, many perpetrators have taken advantage of the transit route to Cambodia for smuggling, which was a new smuggling trick. Customs authorities have intensified inspection and strictly controlled this route, detected many smuggling cases, seized contraband goods on the way of transportation to Cambodia and then back through routes among Cambodia, Tay Ninh, An Giang or Binh Phuoc, etc to be smuggled into Vietnam for consumption.

By Le Thu/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/