Police in Khanh Hoa province have uncovered a high-value smuggling case involving 24 gold bars and 32 iPhones concealed in the checked luggage of two female passengers who failed to declare them upon entering Vietnam.

On December 17, the Economic Police Department of Khanh Hoa Provincial Police confirmed the incident and stated that it is completing the case file for legal proceedings against the two women involved.

The suspects have been identified as N.T.N.N, 65, and L.T.T.A, 37, both residents of Phong Thanh commune in Ca Mau province.

Undeclared goods valued at over $100,000

The discovery took place on the afternoon of December 9 at Cam Ranh International Airport. Police from the economic unit, in coordination with airport security and border police, inspected the checked luggage of the two women.

Inside, they found 24 gold bars stamped 9999 - equivalent to 24 taels (approximately 900 grams) - and 32 iPhones.

During questioning, the women admitted they had purchased the gold and smartphones in South Korea for a total of about 2.5 billion VND (approximately $102,000). Their intention was to transport the goods to Hanoi for resale at a profit.

However, they failed to declare the goods as required by customs law upon re-entering Vietnam.

Authorities have temporarily seized all the items as evidence. The case is under further investigation, with legal action pending based on Vietnamese customs and criminal laws related to smuggling and undeclared imports.

Xuan Ngoc