Society
Cultural activities celebrate Việt Nam Heritage Day
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| Firecrackers seized after border guards stopped a local woman travelling from Laos. — Photo nhandan.com.vn |
Viet Nam News
QUẢNG TRỊ — Customs officers at the Lao Bảo Border Gate in central Quảng Trị Province apprehended smugglers last Saturday seeking to illegally bring firecrackers into Việt Nam from Laos.
The customs officers stopped a passenger van travelling through the gate and found 110kg of firecrackers on board.
Hoàng Thị Chắt, a resident of neighbouring Quảng Bình Province, admitted to customs officials that she had transported the firecrackers into the country to sell during Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year holiday.
Chắt hid the firecrackers in coal packages, which were discovered by customs officials.
Earlier last week, customs officials stopped other smugglers who were attempting to enter the country with 89kg of firecrackers, also imported from Laos. The smuggler also admitted he purchased the firecrackers in Savannakhet Province in Laos.
Since 1995, Việt Nam has banned the use of firecrackers and all activities related to firecrackers, including their production, trade, storage and use, which are prohibited throughout the country.
Before the prohibition, Vietnamese exploded firecrackers to celebrate Tết, weddings and other special events, as they believed the sound of exploding firecrackers would bring good luck.
In related news, border guards in Quảng Bình Province captured two Laotian men who attempted to cross the border with synthetic drugs to sell in Việt Nam.
The suspects were carrying 30,000 pills containing synthetic drugs, according to officials. — VNS
