The General Department of Vietnam Customs has required that customs agencies in localities strengthen the examination and supervision over products in transit, goods temporarily imported for re-export, and commodities stored in bonded warehouses.

The direction was made following recent cases of smuggling found in border areas, in which products were registered as temporary imports for re-export but were then illegally brought into the country, especially products subject to import conditions, high-value products, or those banned from importation into Vietnam, according to Vietnam Customs.

Exported or re-exported products are only allowed for shipment via border gates when registered with customs agencies, to ensure they are not divided into smaller batches and exported via illegal routes, it explained.

Re-exported products must be transported by vehicles that meet sealing requirements and have undergone customs inspection procedures.

The transport of products in transit or products from bonded warehouses to border gates for export must be monitored by e-seals.