Officers from the Quang Ninh Market Surveillance Department inspect the warehouse on July 8.
Authorities in Quang Ninh Province have uncovered a warehouse operated by a Chinese national that contained more than 47,000 illegally imported items, with an estimated value exceeding VND 1.2 billion (approximately USD 47,200).
On July 8, the Quang Ninh Market Surveillance Department inspected a warehouse located within the premises of Dong Tam Trading Joint Stock Company in Mong Cai Ward 3, Quang Ninh Province.
The inspection team discovered 47,127 items in violation of import regulations, including cosmetics and various other products either smuggled or of unclear origin. The facility was found to be leased and operated by a Chinese individual named A Pin.
According to authorities, the warehouse was operating as a transhipment hub for orders placed through multiple TikTok accounts, with goods primarily sourced from the Chinese e-commerce platform 1688.com.
Local staff were responsible for printing pre-generated shipping labels and forwarding the packages to delivery services. Data retrieved from the system showed transactions recorded from February 15, with total revenue amounting to approximately 12 million Chinese yuan (around VND 43 billion or USD 1.6 million).
However, due to the use of foreign-language software and the lack of integration with Vietnam’s domestic e-commerce systems, investigators have not yet been able to identify the TikTok accounts involved, determine the total quantity of goods sold, or assess the profits generated.
Market surveillance officials noted that the case highlighted increasingly sophisticated methods of smuggling involving the use of social media platforms and cross-border software systems to evade detection. The anonymous warehouse model, linked to multiple accounts and controlled remotely, poses significant challenges to authorities tasked with monitoring and regulating online commercial activities.
All goods have been seized pending further investigation to determine the responsible parties and any legal violations.
