HCM City (VNA) - Regarding the allegedexport scam involving five containers of farm produce, including black pepper,cashew nuts, cinnamon and star anise to the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE), the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA)announced on October 13 that payment for four containers has been retrieved andthe remaining work is underway.
On July 15, after receiving reports fromseveral firms that they suspected they had fallen victim to an export scaminvolving five containers destined for the UAE, the VPA, in collaboration with theVietnam Cashew Association (VCA) and various enterprises, banks, fast deliveryand shipping companies, compiled information and reported the incident to Governmentagencies, ministries, and departments, the Vietnamese Embassy and Trade Officein the UAE, the UAE Embassy in Hanoi, and press agencies.
From October 10-12, Ajman Bank in the UAE refunded over 354,900 USD for the four containers. As for the container of star anise, which hasbeen stored at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai since July 26, the businesses arestill working with the Ajman Bank to request payment for all incurred expenses,including warehouse and legal fees, and the cost of returning the goods to HaiPhong port. The estimated expense related to this shipment as of October 11 amountedto nearly 70,000 USD, and the total value of the shipment is 114,639 USD.
Through this incident, the VCA urged firms to exercise even greatercaution in negotiations, partner verification, payment terms and contracts toprevent the recurrence of similar cases in the future./.