Is it a good idea to dispose of illegally imported goods?

Illegally imports remain commonplace in Laos, including vehicles and food items. Officials recently found almost 28 tonnes of illegally imported frozen poultry parts and seafood, which they disposed of. Vientiane Times asked for opinions on this practice, which some people have suggested is wasteful.

Ms Phaisith, a resident of Xaythany district, Vientiane:  It’s all too easy to smuggle goods into Laos. And it’s not fair on traders who regularly pay import taxes and customs duty. I would like to see officials enforcing the law in this regard, as everyone should shoulder responsibility and pay taxes the same as other traders. One thing that troubles me is that illicit products are always disposed of. I think that if these products do not contain harmful chemicals and are not beyond their sell-by date they should be given to the poorest people or else sold so that at least some money can be made from them. We should ensure that some benefit is gained and they are not entirely wasted. 

Ms Soudchai, a resident of Vientiane: I don’t know much about the law in this regard, but I think the authorities’ normal response is acceptable. Of course, if we can reuse illicit products, so much the better. But, in reality, the law should be enforced and goods should be inspected. As far as frozen food is concerned, what exactly is the process and how long does it take? I’m concerned that food may rot before it can be used. 
 
Mr Xayphone, an official in Vientiane province: I think it would be better if the government fixed the root cause of the problem, not the end result. It should be the responsibility of local people to monitor illegal smuggling, because this doesn’t happen at the main border crossings but is condoned by communities in border areas. We should inform officials if we know that underhand activities are taking place. And officials should apprehend the culprits and let them know they’re not playing by the rules. Of course, officials should bring the law to bear on people who import products illegally, because it causes many problems. Goods aren’t checked for quality and, as we know, there are outbreaks of animal and plant diseases because illegally imported goods don’t undergo quality and health checks. I urge everyone to pay more attention to this issue as it has an adverse impact on society.

Mr Somexay, a resident of Xaysettha district, Vientiane: If illegally imported goods have some value, they should be made use of instead of being thrown away, especially food. These days the price of almost everything is rising, which means that the poorest people are really struggling. I think that if illicit goods are in good condition they should be given to poor people. Or they could be put up for auction so that some benefit is derived from them. I’m not sure that this falls within the law, but whatever happens the authorities should think about what makes sense and act openly, fairly and properly to prevent complaints from the public.

Ms Linly Philavan, a resident of Khammuan province: I read about this food being disposed of and thought it was a terrible waste. It would be better if the authorities could get some value out of smuggled goods so that the state and the public benefit in some way. But it would be better if smuggling could be stopped because the government loses a lot of revenue every year through lost taxes. And many Lao companies are suffering from lost business because they can’t compete with their rivals who import goods illegally and sell them at lower prices. I’m not sure that the authorities enforce the law as they should, but we need to urgently put a stop to this practice so that conditions are fair for everyone.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update February 17, 2022)