Customs officers at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi discovered some two kilograms of gold, valued at over VND5.5 billion (US$210,470), hidden inside four camera lenses of a passenger from Taiwan. Photo: H.Q. / Tuoi Tre
The passenger, identified as C.P.H., arrived in Hanoi on flight VN579 from Taiwan on Wednesday.
During routine baggage screening, airport customs officers noticed unusual images on the scanner and flagged the suitcase for further inspection.
Working in coordination with anti-smuggling units and police, customs officers conducted a detailed search of the luggage.
Inside four camera lenses, they found 12 yellow metal bars.
Both the passenger and the confiscated items were transferred to the Hanoi Department of Public Security for investigation.
The case underscored the increasingly complex tactics being used in smuggling attempts, including hiding goods inside common consumer items, using counterfeit branding, mislabeling product origin, and exploiting processing or transit procedures to bypass trade regulations.
In response to these growing challenges, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has instructed its units to strengthen inspections, increase operational efficiency, and strictly enforce laws to prevent trade violations and smuggling.
