Aircraft mechanic smuggles iPhones from Thailand to Vietnam

Le Van Ngoc, 43, an aircraft maintenance technician of Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company, and his wife Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga, 29, are now under investigation for smuggling.

Le Van Ngoc (C), an aircraft maintenance technician of Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company, is at a police station in HCMC, October 8, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy

Nguyen Anh Tuan, 33, a resident of HCMC, has been arrested for the same charge, police said Sunday.

According to the police, customs officials at Tan Son Nhat found Tuan carrying 12 iPhones 14 Pro Max from Thailand to HCMC and did not declare them.

Police later identified that he had smuggled more than 600 iPhones 14 Pro Max worth VND20 billion (US$818,000) from Thailand to Vietnam.

When looking further into Tuan's case, police found Ngoc was his accomplice.

Every time it came to Ngoc's shift to maintain an aeroplane, he would inform Tuan so that the latter could book a flight from Thailand to HCMC in line with his maintenance schedule.

If a plane touched down and passengers started to get off, technician Ngoc would get on, secretly receive a batch of iPhones from Tuan, put it into his bag, and continue his shift as normal.

After that, Ngoc left the airport via the domestic terminal to avoid customs inspection and delivered the iPhones back to Tuan.

For every iPhone smuggled into Vietnam, Ngoc received VND900,000.

Police said he pocketed more than VND500 million in total. His wife also joined him as part of the smuggling ring.

Officers are continuing investigation into the case.