HÀ NỘI — The Anti-smuggling Department under Việt Nam Customs will prosecute a Hà Nội-based company for allegedly smuggling and trading over 100 containers of ceramic tiles worth some VNĐ3.2 billion (US$143,300)

From September to December 2015, the Tuấn Phát Commerce and Trade Ltd Company bought 65 containers with over 76,000sq.m. of ceramic tiles from China. The tiles were scheduled to transit via the Hải Phòng Port and then reach Inland Container Depot (ICD) Gia Lâm-Hà Nội.

Once the 30 containers arrived at ICD Gia Lâm-Hà Nội, the company took them out of the depot without following the required customs procedure for imported goods. Another 35 ceramic tile containers were sent directly to the company’s warehouse instead of to ICD Gia Lâm.

Further investigation showed that from July to October 2015, the company submitted eight customs declaration to import 44 containers of ceramic tiles worth VNĐ1.8 billion ($80,600).

The ceramic tiles were not legally imported as the company did not submit the required documents, including quality test results and samples for testing.

However, all the smuggled tiles in 44 containers were sold in the domestic market.

The Anti-smuggling Department said it would transfer all documents relating to the company to the Hà Nội Police for further investigation. — VNS