Vigorously combat smuggling across the border.

During the period before, during, and after the Lunar New Year, the situation of smuggling goods across the border and trade fraud becomes more complex and shows signs of increasing with various methods to bring goods into the domestic market for consumption. Therefore, the functional agencies of the province have developed plans and deployed forces to effectively implement the work of preventing and combating smuggling and trade fraud, contributing to market stability and ensuring the rights of consumers.

Border guards from Hoành Mô border gate station patrol the border line and border markers.

To resolutely prevent smuggling, illegal transportation of goods, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods along land borders during the Tet holiday, the Provincial Border Guard Command directed its units to proactively develop specialized programs and plans to strengthen strict control along the entire land and sea border. This focused on key items such as: narcotics, various types of fireworks, cigarettes, food, cosmetics, consumer goods, poultry and poultry products, mobile phones, etc.; and enhanced coordination and information sharing to apprehend and severely punish cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border. In 2024, the Border Guard force spearheaded the arrest and handling of 97 cases/104 individuals, with seized goods valued at 4.9 billion VND, an increase of 42.6% in the number of cases and 69% in value compared to 2023. Criminal proceedings were initiated in 20 cases involving 29 individuals, representing a 42.9% increase in the number of cases and a 26.1% increase in the number of individuals compared to 2023; administrative penalties were imposed in 79 cases, resulting in fines totaling 1.8 billion VND.

The provincial customs force also strengthened goods control based on analysis and forecasting of smuggling situations before, during, and after Tet (Lunar New Year), in order to set specific goals and solutions to implement at local customs management units and facilities. This focused on 8 groups of tasks and 49 specific duties with the goal of "Managing the area, controlling the situation, and curbing the perpetrators; resolutely preventing the emergence of hotspots for smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal transportation of goods within the customs operational area"; issuing numerous directives to local units to strengthen control and combat smuggling and illegal transportation of goods such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, gold, currency, telecommunications equipment, mobile phones, lobster larvae, pigs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, functional foods, medicinal herbs, animals, animal products, livestock breeds, aquatic products; goods in transit, and goods transported independently… Strengthen the exchange of cooperation notes with Nanning Customs - China in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal transportation of goods and drugs across the border.

Customs officers at Mong Cai border gate are controlling people and goods passing through the border gate during the year-end period.

Mr. Pham Van Minh, Deputy Head of the Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Sub-Department, stated: To resolutely combat smuggling and illegal transportation of goods during the Tet holiday, the unit has developed a plan and organized operations to strictly apprehend and handle cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of prohibited goods, counterfeit goods, imitation goods, substandard goods, and goods affecting security, order, and social safety within its jurisdiction. It has also strengthened strict control over imported, transshipped, temporarily imported, re-exported, and transit shipments, especially consumer goods and essential items to meet the increased demand before, during, and after Tet. Simultaneously, it has strictly implemented goods control and applied a comprehensive range of operational measures, strengthening coordination with other functional forces to promptly detect, apprehend, and strictly handle acts of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border within its jurisdiction.

In particular, to effectively control the market and prevent the formation of "hot spots" for smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, the Provincial Steering Committee 389 has implemented professional measures, closely monitoring the situation, identifying key areas and targets to proactively develop specialized plans, conduct patrols and inspections, establish special cases to combat and target complex networks and hotspots, and handle violations. In 2024, functional forces under the Quang Ninh Provincial Steering Committee 389 detected, arrested, and handled 3,587 cases of smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods; the value of infringing goods amounted to 34.63 billion VND, an increase of 19% in the number of cases and 57% in value. Administrative violations were handled in 3,522 cases, an increase of 4% in the number of administrative violations; fines totaled over 385 billion VND.

Market Management Team No. 4 (Mong Cai City) inspects goods in the area.

The Provincial Steering Committee 389 has developed a plan and assigned tasks to its members to strengthen control and prevent the formation of hotspots and organized groups transporting goods into the country before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake 2025; proactively develop and effectively implement plans to combat smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in 2025, ensuring they are commensurate with the evolving situation and linked to the responsibilities of the heads and leaders of the units; pay attention to directing the work of information gathering and closely monitoring the situation in key areas and targets. At the same time, it will forecast, warn, and prevent early and distant violations, and strengthen inspection and control to promptly detect, arrest, and strictly handle acts of smuggling, illegal transportation of goods, unreasonable price increases, and market instability. Strengthening control over e-commerce and digital platform businesses... Thereby contributing to maintaining a safe environment, stabilizing the market, promoting production and business activities, increasing budget revenue, ensuring security and order, protecting national sovereignty and interests, and the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and businesses.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/quyet-liet-phong-chong-buon-lau-qua-bien-gioi-3340301.html