News

Effective and substantive cooperation between the Department of Viet Nam Customs and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in capacity building in the field of anti-smuggling

Summary

On September 21, 2026, at Anti-Smuggling Control Team No. 1, Anti-Smuggling Investigation Branch, Department of Customs, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State, the opening session of the pilot training course on shipboarding procedures was held within the framework of the Project to Enhance Shipboarding Procedures for Anti-Smuggling Operations on Maritime Routes

Updated on : 01-10-2026

On September 21, 2026, at Anti-Smuggling Control Team No. 1, Anti-Smuggling Investigation Branch, Department of Customs, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State, the opening session of the ASIB boarding operations pilot training course was held within the framework of the Project to Enhance ASIB boarding operations for Anti-Smuggling Operations on Maritime Routes.

Attending the opening session, on the Department of Viet Nam Customs (DVC) side were Mr. Au Anh Tuan – Deputy Director of the Department of Customs, along with representatives from the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Branch and the Department Office of DVC. On the U.S. side were Ms. Jennifer M. Wicks, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Viet Nam, representatives from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

(The leader of the Department of Viet Nam Customs presented a gift to the U.S. Ambassador at the opening session)

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Director highly appreciated the practical cooperation and support of INL to the DVC over the past period, especially in training activities, capacity building in law enforcement, anti-smuggling, and customs control along the maritime routes.

On the US side, Ambassador Jennifer M. Wicks acknowledged the results of cooperation between the INL and the DVC in the field of maritime law enforcement over the past period. She also affirmed that the U.S. values ​​its cooperative relationship with Viet Nam Customs and wishes to continue promoting practical cooperation activities, contributing to enhancing law enforcement capacity and ensuring trade security and safety along the maritime routes. This cooperation is one of the proofs of the increasingly deep and sustainable comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries.

This training course is an important activity in the implementation of the non-project, aiming to gradually build proactive and sustainable training capacity for the Viet Nam Customs force. Based on the knowledge and skills acquired during the training, members of the Viet Nam Customs mobile training Team directly assumed the role of instructors, organizing teaching, guiding theoretical and practical professional skills on board for the training course participants. Through this process, professional knowledge and skills are transferred, further refined, and gradually expanded within the Customs force.

After the opening session, the leaders of the Viet Nam Customs, the U.S. Ambassador, and delegates directly observed the practical training conducted by the mobile training Team at the dock area of ​​Anti-Smuggling Control Team No. 1, visually illustrating the content implemented in the training program.

The organization of this pilot training course further affirms the substantive and effective cooperation between the Viet Nam Customs and the U.S. law enforcement agencies, while contributing to enhancing the capacity of the Customs force in controlling, preventing, and combating smuggling and illegal activities along the maritime route.

(Group photo of guests and participants attending the training course)

Hạnh Dung