Fire-crackers were detected in Hai Duong province recently. (Photo: VNA) Quang Tri (VNA) – As Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday approaches, firecracker smuggling is again “hot” in the border areas. Several tonnes have already been seized by customs authorities as they head across the border into Vietnam. Police, border guards and market managements in the central province of Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces have been seizing tens of cases of Lao-made firecrackers. On December 30, more than 150kg of fireworks were discovered in Quang Tri province’s Lao Bao township, according to border point officials. Earlier, provincial police stopped a suspicious car in Vinh Linh district and discovered nearly 300kg of firecrackers. The driver, Nguyen Tan Tan, 32, confessed that he bought the goods at Huong Hoa district of Quang Trị province to sell in Quang Binh province. Border guards also arrested two people for allegedly transporting 163kg of explosives for sale at A Ho village in Thanh commune on December 25. In Quang Binh province, police have seized more than 3.7 tonnes of different types of firecrackers. Smugglers are using more and more sophisticated tricks to transport banned products into Vietnam, said Colonel Phan Thanh Quang, head of Police Office in Huong Hoa district. The Government has banned firecracker production, trade and use since 1995. However, every year there are reports of illegal firecracker smuggling and subsequent accidents in the days ahead of the Tet holidays. Colonel Quang said the Police Office also sent officials to hot spots such as… [Read full story]
With Tet (the lunar New Year), the year’s biggest festival in Vietnam, approaching, police are keeping a close eye on the country’s borders for firecracker smuggling.Private citizens are banned from bursting crackers in Vietnam, with local governments setting them off during certain festivals.Police in the northern mountain province of Lang Son arrested a couple transporting 218 kilograms of firecrackers from the Tan Thanh border point to Cao Loc District.The firecrackers were hidden in a truck that was carrying groceries goods.The police seized the truck and fined its driver, Trinh Manh Hien.In the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, police in Hoang…... [read more]
These products are widely available at stores across Ho Chi Minh City, but foreign ornaments are preferred over the locally manufactured products. Artificial flowers made from fabric and paper are mostly imported from Japan, Thailand, and South Korea, while Chinese products dominate the market for red envelopes and decorations including plastic bamboo trees and fake firecrackers. “Plastic or fabric flowers made by Vietnamese businesses are rough and have dull colors, thus not attractive,” said Le Thi Kim Anh, a vendor. Pham Thi Hong Chau, a vendor in Tan Binh District, said South Korean paper flowers are seeing good sales thanks…... [read more]
Vi Lay Sac and Em Say Nha San were stopped while transporting nearly 1,000 firecrackers weighing more than 29kg. — Photo dantri QUANG BINH (VNS) — Border Guards in Quang Binh Province yesterday reported they had arrested two Lao men for smuggling illegal firecrackers via the Cha Lo International Border Gate.Vi Lay Sac and Em Say Nha San were stopped while transporting nearly 1,000 firecrackers weighing more than 29kg.They admitted they had been hired to transport the firecrackers by a Vietnamese man named Van.Over the past month, 10 shipments of firecrackers weighing nearly a tonne have been stopped at the…... [read more]
Bui Duc Thanh, 25, was arrested in Hoanh Mo Commune with the smuggled firecrackers on his motorbike. — Photo vov QUANG NINH (VNS) – Border police at the Hoanh Mo Border Gate in the northern province of Quang Ninh yesterday arrested a man for smuggling 49kg of Chinese firecrackers into Viet Nam.Bui Duc Thanh, 25, was arrested in Hoanh Mo Commune with the smuggled firecrackers on his motorbike.All the firecrackers have been seized. — VNS... [read more]
Truong QuangHoai Nam , director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's MarketWatch Department, said smuggling methods had become increasinglysophisticated with smugglers setting up vast trans-national networks.Statistics showed that up to 20 percent of cigarettes are illegallysmuggled, with Vietnam being a significant market for the goods, hesaid. Figures from the VietnamTobacco Association also revealed that there were more than 100cigarette brands smuggled into Vietnam, 90 percent of whichcomprised Jet and Hero brand goods. Smuggled cigarettes were mostlyimported from China, Laos, Malaysia and the Philippines.The activities have caused a 20-25percent dent to State budget revenues each year, of which the tobaccoindustry…... [read more]
