The seizure was made during an inspection of an export consignment flagged as suspicious by anti-smuggling officers in October 2025, according to the Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance.
Inspectors found 325,000 packs of ESSE Change 4mg cigarettes, equivalent to 650 cartons, suspected of infringing a trademark protected under intellectual property laws.
Customs authorities launched an investigation to determine the origin and legality of the shipment and clarify any related violations.
Following the investigation, anti-smuggling officers transferred the case to Quang Tri authorities for administrative handling.
On May 8, the provincial People's Committee imposed a fine of VND 430 million (USD 16,400) on the violating organisation and ordered the destruction of the entire shipment in accordance with the law.
The Customs Department said the case underscored ongoing efforts to combat counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations linked to cross-border trade.
