Chu Ba Toan (right), deputy head of Chi Ma Border Gate Customs Branch and Hoang Thanh Son, a staff member, were accused of involvement in a herbal medicine smuggling ring. — Photo laodong.vn

The two officials were accused of lacking responsibility, causing serious consequences.

They are Chu Ba Toan, deputy head of Chi Ma Border Gate Customs Branch and Hoang Thanh Son, a staff member of the branch. Their residences and workplaces have been searched and the police have seized a number of documents related to the case.

The agency also decided to commence legal proceedings against Lam Dinh Hoai, director of Duc Linh Trade Ltd Co and Nguyen Thi Ngan, a freelancer.

However, Hoai was not at his place of residence, so the agency has issued an arrest warrant.

On December 15, police launched legal proceedings against Lam Dinh Hung, Tran Van Quang and Nguyen Van Khanh on charges of smuggling.

Hung was determined as the leader of a ring which smuggled herbal medicine of unclear origin in different provinces and cities.

The ring was discovered on December 4 when police caught Tran Van Quang, a customs worker, and Nguyen Van Khanh, a driver, in the act of completing procedures to bring goods through Chi Ma border gate.

In the customs declaration, they said the goods were dried fruits.

However, police found they were transporting nearly 400 bags of herbal medicine of different kinds.

Opening an investigation, the police checked six traditional herbal medicine shops in Ninh Hiep Commune, Gia Lam District in Hanoi and seized more than four tonnes of herbal medicines without documentation on their origin.

They also searched traditional medicine shops in Nam Dinh, Nghe An provinces and HCM City and found over five tonnes of contraband.

Over 100 tonnes of herbal medicine without clear origin have been seized in total. — VNS

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