VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam Customs (VC) has directed its departments across 10 cities and provinces to tighten the supervision of its staff entering airports' restricted areas to curb smuggling through airways.

In its official document No. 5946/TCHQ-GSQL sent to Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Nghe An, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, as well as Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, HCM City, Can Tho, and Kien Giang on Wednesday, Vu Ngoc Anh, VC's Deputy Director-General, noted that the practice of "airways staff taking advantage of their positions to illegally transport goods" has come to its attention.

He asked the departments to collect information and make a list of suspicious people. The departments are required to make their own plans to curb transborder smuggling and aiding smugglers and check the profession and identity of their staff entering restricted areas in airports.

The official document specifically directs the supervision of staff, the luggage of pilots, cabin crew, the turn-round process, as well as plane exits, hangar, and the loading/unloading area for import-export goods.

Any violations must be strictly punished.

Previously, a captain and a steward on national carrier Vietnam Airlines' flight from Ha Noi to South Korea's Pusan in March were caught bringing gold without declaring them. They were detained at South Korea's airport.

Source: VNS