HANOI: The number of smuggling cases handled in the first six months of the year rose by 35 per cent compared to the same period last year, reported the National 389 Steering Committee.
The statistics were released on Friday at an online meeting of the committee, which leads the national fight against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting.
The committee added that more than VND4.3 trillion (US$198.3 million) was added to the State budget by selling seized goods.
Drugs continued to be the most popular goods trafficked across borders, both by land and air.
Meanwhile, natural resources such as oil, coal and timber were smuggled by sea from the coasts of northeastern, central and southwestern regions.
Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Chairman of the committee, said a lot of work still needed to be done.
“We missed many cases in several localities and sectors,” Phuc said.
Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said that all corrupt officers should be removed to improve the outcomes of the fight.
Administrative procedures should also be refined by using the electronic network to close existing loopholes.
