Promoting the application of digital technology

Authorities are continuously conducting inspections and monitoring to prevent and combat smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods. (Illustrative photo: THAO TIEN)

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang directed that in the coming period, ministries, sectors, and localities should promote the application of digital technology to promptly detect and handle acts and methods of smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the context of the strong development of e-commerce...

Proactive crime prevention and control

According to the National Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Illicit Trafficking, and Counterfeiting (National Steering Committee 389), in the first six months of the year, the local Steering Committees 389 proactively led and directed units and forces to actively carry out the work of combating smuggling, illicit trafficking, and counterfeiting. Information exchange and coordination in the fight against these crimes yielded high effectiveness; information and propaganda were widely disseminated to many fields, areas, and target groups.

Accordingly, the whole country detected and handled more than 64,000 cases of smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeiting, a decrease of 2.82% compared to the same period in 2023; collecting more than 6,000 billion VND for the state budget, a decrease of 7.53%. Of the total number of cases, there were 55,133 cases of trade fraud and tax fraud; 3,010 cases of counterfeiting and intellectual property violations, a decrease of 9.7% and an increase of 8.55% respectively compared to the same period in 2023; 650 criminal cases were initiated with 1,912 individuals, a decrease of 44.25% in the number of cases and a decrease of 18.82% in the number of individuals.

In Vinh Long province , implementing Plan No. 92 of the National Steering Committee 389 on strengthening the fight against smuggling, illegal trade, and counterfeit goods along border lines, sea areas, and inland areas, from September 15, 2022, to May 15, 2024, Vinh Long province conducted inspections and checks in 18,057 cases, resulting in the handling of 1,980 cases with a total fine of 116.4 billion VND.

In addition, to combat counterfeiting and intellectual property infringement in e-commerce and traditional trade, in 2023, Vinh Long province conducted 10,351 inspections, detecting 36 violations related to counterfeiting with a total fine of nearly 1.1 billion VND; of which the value of goods destroyed was 557 million VND, mainly counterfeit fertilizers, counterfeit micronutrient supplements, and counterfeit packaged foods.

According to the assessment of the National Steering Committee 389, several new methods and tactics have emerged recently. Specifically, these include exploiting import and export activities without declaration, falsely declaring the name and type of goods, declaring incorrect quantities of goods, falsely declaring the content of substances in mixtures, understating the value of shipments and routes, and mixing goods that do not meet standards and regulations with legitimate import and export goods.

Or, exploiting the State's lenient policies on business establishment, individuals register multiple different companies (a type of "ghost" company) but do not conduct production, business, or services as registered in their business registration certificates. Instead, they illegally issue large quantities of value-added tax invoices to organizations and individuals to gain illicit profits.

Specifically, they exploit the terrain, weather, and complex conditions at sea, attaching tracking devices and releasing large quantities of drugs (cocaine) originating from the Americas and Europe to drift ashore on the Vietnamese coast; they also exploit commercial banks to illegally transport currency across the border by giving or gifting savings passbooks…

Enhancing the competence, ethics, and responsibility of officials.

At the online meeting to review the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the first six months of 2024 and to implement tasks for the last six months of 2024, delegates focused on clarifying the methods, tactics, and difficulties in combating and preventing activities that exploit e-commerce and import/export of goods for illegal business, smuggling, and transportation of prohibited goods, smuggled goods, and goods of unknown origin; illegal trading of invoices; and the production and sale of counterfeit and counterfeit goods in craft villages.

Many delegates highlighted the current situation as well as the methods and tactics that perpetrators often exploit to commit violations… From there, they exchanged lessons learned, proposed recommendations, and suggested solutions to combat, prevent, and improve the effectiveness of combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the future.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the National Steering Committee 389, requested that localities and units frankly acknowledge existing problems such as: some units still do not pay enough attention to educating the ideology and ethics of officials performing their duties; inspection and control are not consistent or regular, creating many loopholes; and in some places there are even instances of turning a blind eye, covering up, or colluding...

The number of cases detected and handled is not commensurate with reality and requirements; there is a lack of thorough understanding of detection and handling techniques in some areas such as e-commerce and copyright infringement; increasingly sophisticated methods are being employed, digital technologies are being used, and loopholes in the legal framework for managing e-commerce activities are being exploited. Drug-related crimes remain a pressing issue with immeasurable consequences…

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stated that violations in this area are expected to increase in the last six months of the year due to increased shopping demand during year-end holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), and the growing trend of online shopping…

Efforts to combat smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods have been proactive and effective in recent times, ensuring market stability and protecting consumers. (Illustrative image)

“Units, according to their assigned responsibilities and tasks, must be more decisive, upholding the role of the head; strengthening the effective coordination between agencies, sectors, and levels of the political system in performing tasks and exchanging information; strengthening inspection and supervision to detect loopholes, errors, and limitations; improving public service ethics, regularly supplementing working capacity, and applying information technology; diversifying forms of propaganda, raising awareness to help consumers become smart consumers; reviewing and proposing adjustments to inadequate legal regulations. Localities should focus on hotspots and areas; strengthen the equipping and application of information technology, and learn from the experiences of other countries to have better solutions in combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods…” – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasized.

Text and photos: KHANH DUY

Source: https://baovinhlong.vn/kinh-te/202408/chong-buon-lau-gian-lan-thuong-mai-va-hang-gia-day-manh-ung-dung-cong-nghe-so-3186026/