Strengthen the fight against smuggling and trade fraud

In order to stabilize the market, ensure the rights and interests of enterprises, business organizations and consumers, recently, the Provincial Steering Committee against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods (Steering Committee 389/DP) has directed functional forces to strengthen market inspection and control, and strictly handle acts of trade fraud.

Authorities inspect export goods at Lao Bao International Border Gate - Photo: LA

According to Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of Steering Committee 389/DP, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Truong Khoa, in 2023, the complicated developments in the world have negatively impacted investment, production, business and export activities nationwide and in the province. The increase in prices of goods has led to a resurgence of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the province with sophisticated methods and tricks, causing social disorder and negatively affecting socio -economic development in localities.

Specifically, prohibited and smuggled goods from abroad entering Vietnam through the Vietnam - Laos border area, Lao Bao and La Lay international border gates, and National Highway 9 include: drugs, fireworks, explosives, sugar, foreign alcohol, cigarettes, electronics, minerals, etc.

The main method is for the subjects to gather goods close to the Lao border area, taking advantage of the rugged terrain, darkness and loopholes of the authorities to hire "porters" to carry goods across the border or use small boats to transport goods across the Sepon River. Then, they gather goods scattered in houses or gathering places, warehouses, waiting for a favorable opportunity to use cars to collect goods and transport them through National Highway 9 deep inland for consumption or to mix them with official import and export goods.

In the domestic market, the trade and transportation of smuggled goods, counterfeit goods, goods of unknown origin, expired goods... still occurs in some areas in the province. In addition, smuggling through e-commerce activities, goods transported by service vehicles, cargo vehicles... has also increased.

Faced with that situation, departments, branches, functional forces and localities have actively followed the area, promptly grasped the laws, methods and tricks of smuggling and trade fraud both on the border and inland to arrange forces and means to effectively fight.

Specifically, in 2023, the authorities inspected, detected, arrested and handled 2,073 cases, an increase of 10.56% compared to 2022. Of which, the main cases were trading and transporting prohibited goods and smuggled goods: 1,230 cases; commercial fraud: 883 cases and counterfeit goods: 5 cases with the value of infringing goods of 25.7 billion VND. Administrative violations were sanctioned in 1,648 cases with the amount of money collected to the budget of 61.5 billion VND. Prosecuted 293 cases with 456 subjects, an increase of 1.74% in the number of cases and 8.83% in the number of subjects prosecuted.

Confiscated goods included 24.8 grams of heroin, 64.37 kg and 928,350 synthetic drug pills, 18.8 kg of crystal meth; 660.8 kg of explosives; more than 3,560 kg of firecrackers and 37 kg of fireworks; 58,115 packs of cigarettes, 8,624 bottles of various types of alcohol, 951.7 tons of sugar, 56,524 cans of beer; 17.3 kg and 20 wild animals (Wildlife), 16.8 kg of Wildlife products; 7,560 kg of animal products; 1,156 food boxes, 2,400 packs of traditional medicine, 214,509 boxes of various types of cosmetics; approximately 109 m3 of various types of wood and 15.4 tons of non-timber forest products... In particular, large-scale gathering places and warehouses were initially handled.

In addition, the inspection and specialized examination of departments and branches on fertilizers, pesticides, gasoline, food safety; standards, measurements, product quality... continues to be strengthened, contributing to a healthy market. Creating conditions for production and business activities in the province to develop.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Khoa said that in the coming time, it is forecasted that smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods will continue to develop complicatedly; subjects will become more daring and reckless. In order to proactively control the situation, detect and promptly prevent smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, Steering Committee 389/DP continues to thoroughly instruct departments, branches, functional forces and localities to step up the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, first of all before, during and after the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024.

Strengthen inspection and management of the area, proactively grasp the market situation, price developments, supply and demand of goods; organize inspections of production and business establishments, especially in mountainous areas, remote areas to promptly detect and strictly handle violations in accordance with legal regulations.

Directing functional forces to focus on fighting and handling ringleaders, large-scale or high-value warehouses; major transportation routes such as along the border, border gate areas, National Highway 9, National Highway 1, and e-commerce methods. Closely coordinate in inspecting, checking, and controlling key areas, industries, essential and focused goods; handling complicated, multi-sector, multi-sector cases or goods and areas with potential complex factors. Contributing to protecting the market, rights and legitimate interests of businesses, business organizations, and consumers. Strengthening inspection of passenger and cargo transportation business activities by container and truck, VAN truck in the province in general and on National Highway 9 in particular.

“Along with that, the authorities also require production and business establishments to proactively sign a commitment to strictly comply with State regulations. Do not trade in smuggled goods; do not produce, trade, or store prohibited goods, counterfeit goods, or poor quality goods...; commit to posting prices and selling goods and services at the listed prices. At the same time, encourage people to proactively denounce acts of commercial fraud, especially acts of taking advantage of e-commerce to violate the law,” Mr. Khoa added.

Le An

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