HANOI: A court in Vietnam has sentenced a Chinese man to two years in prison for bringing into the country US$30,900 without making a declaration to the customs authorities last month.
Chang Wei Wei, a.k.a Michael, was found guilty of cross-border smuggling of foreign exchange, according to the People’s Court of Tay Ninh Province on September 30.
According to the indictment, on August 1, Wei attempted to enter Vietnam from Cambodia through Moc Bai Border Gate in Tay Ninh.
He did not declare any amount of foreign exchange brought with him.
Subsequent screening led to his arrest, after customs officers found $20,000 in his bag, $10,000 in his pocket and another $900 in his wallet.
According to Vietnam Customs, a declaration must be made to the customs authorities if a person brings in foreign currency notes with value exceeding US$5,000.
Under the Penal Code, the crime of smuggling goods and currency valuing from VND500 million ($22,247) could be subjected to up to 10-year imprisonment.
