As Lunar New Year (Tet) is coming up in four months, smuggling rings are moving their imported goods to the domestic market in preparation for New Year consumption.

From September 14 to 18, Ha Noi Police's Economic Crime Investigation Department (PC46) seized over 20 tonnes of illegally imported goods worth more than 3 billion VND (130,000 USD), according to Lao Dong (The Labour) newspaper.

The smuggled goods included mainly clothes and household goods, which will be consumed in large amounts during the upcoming Lunar New Year.

According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Thanh Kien Trung, PC46 deputy head, the places where smugglers collect counterfeit goods have changed regularly and varied greatly.

After being transported to the domestic market, the goods are legalised by bills and partly loaded on cars with seven to 16 seats or high-powered motorcycles. The goods are finally moved to open areas for consumption, said Trung.

Some smugglers pretend to be wounded soldiers and oppose the supervision of police and local authorities, he said.

To crack down on serious smuggling cases, Ha Noi police will continue to investigate the new tricks of smugglers and investigate provinces surrounding the city.

(Source: VNA)