[/floatl]Yomiuri: Stolen Japanese items rife in Vietnam
Earlier this month, I went to Vietnam to investigate alleged smuggling by Vietnam Airlines crews of goods stolen overseas by Vietnamese theft rings. An Duong Market in the center of Ho Chi Minh City was crammed with small stores...In addition to cosmetics, many other Japanese items, including shampoos and perfumes, were on sale at almost all the 20 shops I visited in the city...When questioned, all the stores said the items were brought into the country by Vietnam Airlines crews. One clerk said, "We bought the goods from a woman called Hien who arranges for crews to get the items"...The woman is suspected of masterminding the crimes. According to the National Police Agency, shoplifting by Vietnamese theft rings has increased sharply since the late 1990s. Since 2006, 85 people have been arrested and the amount of financial damage caused is estimated to be at least 140 million yen. Recently, the investigation headquarters arrested several Vietnam Airlines crew members, including a 33-year-old copilot, Dang Xuan Hop, on suspicion of buying knowingly stolen items...The fact Vietnam Airlines crews use very large bags is well known among airport staff. But in order to verify a case of theft, police need to know where and by whom specific items were stolen. By targeting the actual shoplifters, the police recently seized documents instructing thieves where to send stolen goods...more...
