VietNamNet Bridge – Drivers and assistants of HCM City's inter-provincial busses allegedly involved in transporting smuggled goods have been suspended from work for further investigation.

Customs officers examine imported goods. Several vehicles have been nabbed for allegedly smuggling goods from Cambodia to HCM City. (Photo: VNS)

The report said bus No 53N-3927 running on the 627 bus route (Cho Lon Market in HCM City-Hau Nghia Bus Station in Long An Province) received seven large packages of Jet cigarettes and other goods which were allegedly smuggled from Hau Nghia to Cho Lon on the morning of December 11.

On December 12, bus No 53N-4199 running on the 703 bus route (Ben Thanh Market in HCM City – Go Dau – Moc Bai bordergate in Tay Ninh Province) transported powdered milk, confectionary, cosmetics, beer and alcohol allegedly smuggled from Moc Bai in Tay Ninh province to the city.

On the morning of December 13, at the Moc Bai border gate large quantities of allegedly smuggled goods were loaded onto eight buses that run on the 703 bus route, according to the report.

The 703 bus route is managed by the Sai Gon Passenger Transport Company.

According to the Tuoi Tre report, Vo Nhien Dinh, head of the Traffic Safety- Legal Issue and Inspection Division of the Sai Gon Passenger Transport Co Ltd, said his company had suspended the bus drivers and assistants named in the report.

The company will also inspect all buses running on the 703 bus route, and any violations will be penalised.

Lam Van Phan, chairman of the Viet Thang Transport and Tourist Co-operative, which operates the 627 bus route, said he had suspended the crew of bus No 53N-3927.

Phan said he had also asked the crew to write a report about what they had done.

The cooperative, which has handed out fines or dismissed violators, said it needed the assistance of other agencies to help reduce the number of violations.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News