KON TUM — Firecracker smuggling is on the rise as the Tết (Lunar New Year) approaches.

On Thursday afternoon, transport police in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum stopped a suspicious car on Hồ Chí Minh Road, passing through Đắk Glei District, and found 51 boxes of fireworks weighing 82kg.

On the same day, police in the central Quảng Bình Province stopped a car for overspeeding and found 151 boxes of firecrackers, weighing 240kg.

The driver could not show the products’ paper of origin.

Upon further inspection, the police found a pack of drugs in the jacket of the person accompanying the driver.

The two persons admitted that they were transporting the firecrackers to central Nghệ An Province.

Northern border provinces, including Lạng Sơn, Hà Giang and Quảng Ninh, are also hotspots for firecracker smuggling.

From last November till date, forces in Quảng Ninh Province have repeatedly detected many individuals transporting, trading and illegally storing banned goods, especially firecrackers and drugs.

The amount of firecrackers being smuggled was up to nearly 300kg, mainly in Móng Cái, Hạ Long and Uông Bí cities.

Recently, Uông Bí City police arrested a person for illegally storing 90kg of firecrackers.

Lieutenant Colonel Lê Anh Tuấn, Commander-in-Chief of Hòanh Mô Border Post Station, said traffickers often smuggled banned goods with other products to cross the border.

They also took advantage of trail to carry goods at night, he said.

Border soldiers have actively coordinated with police, customs and local residents to fight against smuggling, Tuấn said.

The provincial Anti-Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Steering Committee (Steering Committee 389) has requested customs officials, police, border guards and market management forces to intensify anti-smuggling activities ahead of Tết holidays. — VNS