~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2002]

Smugglers clash with custom officers at Cambodia-Vietnam border

Hundreds of smugglers stormed one of Vietnam's main land border crossings with Cambodia, leaving three customs officers severely injured when they tried to grab a big haul of contraband, a checkpoint official said. The clash flared early last week when the mob attacked customs officers with fists, sticks, and knives in a bid to get their goods through the Vinh Xuong international checkpoint, the official told AFP Tuesday.

"Ten of us were attacked when we seized a third of about 30 sacks of smuggled refined sugar. One of my colleagues is still in hospital for his serious injury," said customs officer Dao Dinh Huan. "Hundreds of people, some of them armed with weapons then surrounded the checkpoint yelling at and threatening the officers and only drove away when the border army forces and police arrived," Huan added. Vinh Xuong international checkpoint, located in the Mekong river delta province of An Giang, is a smuggling hotspot for electronics, cosmetics, sugar and other goods entering Vietnam from Cambodia.

Last month, troops were deployed at Cau Treo checkpoint, one of Vietnam's main borders crossing with Laos after a customs anti-smuggling operation met violent resistance from locals.

Agence France Presse - May 28, 2002