The HCM City Customs Office has identified the company responsible for shipping 600 blocks of heroin which were later seized by Taiwanese authorities.
The 229 kg of heroin was hidden in 12 amplifier boxes in a shipment from Tan Son Nhat Airport, headed to Taiwan, and went undetected.
During a press conference on December 2, Tran Ma Thong, deputy head of HCM City Custom Office said the company registered as the exporter of the 12 boxes was Long Van Shipping and Airfreight Company, based in HCM City. The shipment was registered for export at 12 pm on November 15 and it cleared at 1:39pm. China Airlines then began to transfer the shipment at midnight of November 17.
"Customs officials followed all the procedures and fulfilled their responsibilities, so we haven't punished anyone. This case is still on-going under Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's request. We'll deliver punishments after individual responsibility is identified," Thong said.
When questioned as to how such a large volume of heroin could go undetected, Thong said their priority is to scrutinise imports, so are a bit more lax on exports. Moreover, the shipment had already been cleared by customs.
"This means the shipment doesn't need to undergo the inspection process. The company filled in the documents on their own. Security at the airport and air carriers are responsible for screening the cargo before it is transferred." he said.
At the headquarters of Long Van Shipping and Airfreight Company, an employee told reporters that all of their the management were on overseas trips so were unable to comment on the case. He said he did not know when they would return.