(HQ Online) - In addition to 4 containers of pepper, cinnamon and cashew nuts exported to the UAE that were taken by the buyer without payment, 1 container of star anise about to dock in the UAE also had its original documents lost. There is a risk of being completely lost like the previous 4 containers.
July 24, Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) Update information related to a case showing signs of fraud in spices and agricultural exports of Vietnamese enterprises in the UAE.
Accordingly, all export companies are members of VPA. The cargo volume is 5 containers, including 2 containers of pepper, 1 container of cinnamon, 1 container of star anise and 1 container of cashews. Of these, 4 containers were taken out of the port without payment, including 2 pepper containers, 1 cinnamon container, 1 cashew container, with a total value of about 400,000 USD. The remaining 1 container of star anise expected to arrive at the port on July 26 is worth 126,300 USD. Currently, the original set of documents for this anise shipment is no longer in the bank for collection through the collection payment (D/P) service similar to the previous 4 shipments.
All of these shipments have the same buyer, Bab Al Rehab Foodstuff Trading LLC (BARFT), and the collecting bank is Ajman Bank PJSC.
Accordingly, all original documents of the shipment were sent by the Vietnamese bank to Ajman Bank and were successfully delivered to the bank, but it is unclear why the buyer received this set of documents when the payment operation had not been completed. D/P settlement with the seller's Vietnamese banking partner. When queried by Vietnamese banks and requested to provide information, Ajman Bank did not actively cooperate and did not respond to the information and requests of Vietnamese banks.
Ms. Hoang Thi Lien, President of VPA, said that the case involves the same buyer, the same bank, and the same form of fraud. Accordingly, there is a possibility of collusion with banks and bank employees.
VPA said that after working with Ajman Bank, on July 20, the Vietnamese Trade Office in the UAE worked with Dubai Police to request the opening of an investigation file on a case of fraud related to Vietnamese businesses. to a Dubai customer and an Ajman bank. On the same day, the Association continued to send official reports to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the State Bank about the urgent situation of the incident and requested support and coordination to help. Recovered money back to the business for 4 shipments worth nearly 400,000 USD that were taken out of the port.
VPA also requests ministries and branches to support and urgently work with Dubai authorities to prevent buyers and buyer representatives from obtaining the original set of documents of the shipment, completing customs clearance procedures and take goods out of the port. “If we do not promptly intervene with the shipping line, the port authority, and the Dubai UAE police before July 26, the day the goods arrive at the port, the anise shipment worth 126,300 USD will certainly continue to be lost like 4 shipments. before" - Ms. Lien said.
Along with that, VPA also reported the incident to the UAE Embassy in Vietnam and requested the relevant authorities of the UAE and Dubai in particular to take measures to handle the case, requesting Ajman Bank PJSC. Responsible for helping to recover money for the goods to the seller in accordance with the payment terms of the D/P contract (collection on behalf).
However, Ms. Lien hopes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador and the State Bank will strongly intervene so that UAE law enforcement agencies can actually handle the case, helping businesses reduce losses and at the same time to prevent similar situations from occurring.
Source: Online Customs
