News

Viet Nam and Lao Customs strengthen cooperation in Anti-Smuggling Investigation

Summary

Updated on : 27-06-2026

DA NANG — Viet Nam Customs hosted a Meeting on anti-smuggling and investigation with Lao Customs in Da Nang from June 24-25, 2026.

The Meeting is an annual cooperative activity held under the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Finance of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Finance of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on information exchange and investigative assistance in combating smuggling, illegal cross-border trafficking of goods, and commercial fraud.

The event was co-chaired by the leadership of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Units from both Customs Administrations. The meeting included representatives from the department offices, specialized divisions, operational teams under the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Units, and regional customs branches of both sides.

During the Meeting, the two sides briefed each other on their recent achievements in combating smuggling and commercial fraud. They also reviewed and evaluated mutual cooperation and assistance activities carried out under the framework of the MOU since their 2025 meeting.

Furthermore, both parties shared experiences and discussed several key thematic topics, including:

• The exchange of customs control intelligence and investigative assistance to combat smuggling;
• Cooperation in countering the smuggling of goods with high risks of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement;
• Combating illegal cross-border drug trafficking in northern and central regions;
• The current state of cooperation, along with emerging difficulties and obstacles encountered during direct enforcement at Vietnam-Laos border gate pairs.

Additionally, the two sides reviewed and updated their list of contact focal points to enhance coordination in monitoring high-risk goods along the Viet Nam-Lao border.

The conference concluded successfully in an atmosphere of openness and mutual understanding. The event helps further strengthen cooperation between the two Anti-Smuggling Investigation Units in particular, while contributing to deepening the special solidarity and friendship between the two Customs Administrations in general.

The two sides agreed that the next Anti-Smuggling Investigation Meeting will be hosted by Laos in 2027.

                    Thu Hương