On the morning of October 5, customs officers at Noi Bai International Airport detected a suspicious foreign passenger attempting to smuggle 3kg of gold into Vietnam. The incident occurred during routine customs clearance for passengers on flight UO550 from Hong Kong (China) to Hanoi.

During the customs inspection, the Hanoi Customs Authority noticed unusual behavior in a Hong Kong national. The passenger, who was attempting to clear customs with only hand luggage, raised suspicions of concealed metal objects on their person.

A metal detector scan revealed irregularities, prompting officials to conduct a more thorough inspection. The Noi Bai International Airport Customs Office invited the passenger to a private room equipped with cameras, where they were asked to cooperate with the inspection process.

Upon further inspection, the passenger removed three gold bars weighing 3kg from concealed locations, including their body and the insoles of their shoes. The metal was immediately suspected to be 9999-grade gold, with an estimated value of VND 6 billion (approximately $250,000).

The Hanoi Customs Authority coordinated with the Hanoi Police Department (PC03) and the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department (under the General Department of Vietnam Customs) to handle the case.

The suspect, along with the confiscated gold and related documents, has been handed over to the Hanoi Police Department's PC03 division for further investigation.

Phung Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the Noi Bai International Airport Customs Office, stated that in light of the volatile gold market, customs authorities have strengthened screening efforts, especially for high-risk passengers, such as those traveling frequently with minimal luggage.

Noi Bai Customs has also invested in handheld scanning devices to enhance their ability to detect smuggled items, ensuring that thorough inspections are carried out on passengers and their belongings.

Tien Dung