More than 88,500 cases of smuggling in first half of 2017In the first six months of 2017, authorities uncovered 88,560 cases of smuggling, prosecuting 1,100 cases involving 1,372 people. Authorities check intercepted cigarette packs smuggled through the border in the southern province of An Giang. Authorities collected 7.9 trillion VND (347.5 million USD) from administrative fines, selling off confiscated smuggled goods, and tax arrears, 40 percent more than the previous year’s first half. The information was released last week at a steering committee meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh. On the maritime front, smuggling of petrol and gas has been on the rise, the committee said, since Vietnam’s current gas price is higher than in some other countries in the region.

Source: VietNamNet News July 24, 2017 04:07 UTC