Strengthening detection and seizure of counterfeit money, temporarily seizing suspected counterfeit money

In activities and transactions related to cash, the State Bank, credit institutions, foreign bank branches, the State Treasury, the police, competent military agencies, and customs shall compare with the security features on real money of the same type or the notice on the characteristics and ways to identify Vietnamese money announced by the State Bank to determine whether it is real or counterfeit. In case of detecting counterfeit money, the State Bank, credit institutions, foreign bank branches, the State Treasury, the police, competent military agencies, and customs shall confiscate and make a record according to regulations.

Illustration

Within a maximum of 05 working days from the date of seizure of counterfeit money or temporary seizure of suspected counterfeit money, the organization seizing counterfeit money or temporarily seizing suspected counterfeit money is responsible for preparing 01 set of documents requesting counterfeit money appraisal in case of appraisal request, preparing 01 set of documents requesting counterfeit money appraisal according to regulations. In case the organization or individual does not comply with the record making, seizure of counterfeit money, temporary seizure of suspected counterfeit money, the State Bank, credit institutions, foreign bank branches, and the State Treasury shall immediately notify the nearest police agency for coordination in handling.

In case of detecting signs related to the act of making, storing, transporting, and circulating counterfeit money, organizations and individuals are responsible for reporting and denouncing crimes according to the provisions of the law on criminal procedure. Receiving and handling denunciations and reports of crimes are carried out according to the provisions of the law on criminal procedure. The appraisal to determine the authenticity of money is carried out according to the provisions of this Decree. The judicial appraisal of Vietnamese money is carried out according to the provisions of the law on judicial appraisal.

Nam Po District Police, Dien Bien Province arrested 02 subjects for storing and circulating counterfeit money.

Agencies, organizations and individuals who request to appraise counterfeit money and suspected counterfeit money to determine the authenticity of the money shall prepare a set of documents as prescribed and submit them directly to the appraisal agency of the Ministry of Public Security or the State Bank. The Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank shall arrange for specialized personnel to appraise counterfeit money and suspected counterfeit money, ensure equipment, means and other necessary conditions for the appraisal of counterfeit money and suspected counterfeit money; publicly announce the list and contact addresses of the appraisal agencies on the electronic information portal of the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank.

The appraisal agency shall process the appraisal results within a maximum of 02 working days from the date of completion of the appraisal. The appraisal agency shall notify the appraisal results in writing to the agency, organization or individual requesting the appraisal. In case the appraisal result is not counterfeit money, the appraisal agency shall return the object to the agency, organization or individual requesting the appraisal. In case the agency or organization requesting the appraisal is a public security agency, a competent agency of the military, customs, the People's Procuracy or the People's Court, the appraisal agency shall return the object to the agency or organization that requested the appraisal.

The Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank are allowed to retain a certain amount of counterfeit money as research materials. Counterfeit money used as research materials is classified, counted, monitored, stored, and preserved fully and safely during use. The Minister of Public Security and the Governor of the State Bank decide on the quantity, type, management, and use of these materials. Counterfeit money is classified, counted, arranged, packaged, preserved, and transported to ensure its integrity, security, safety, and to avoid confusion. The delivery and receipt of counterfeit money is carried out in sheets or pieces, with full content recorded and a handover and receipt record signed according to the prescribed form No. 04. The State Bank guides relevant agencies in the packaging, storage, delivery, and transportation of counterfeit money according to their functions and management authority.

Organizations and individuals with counterfeit money must hand it over to the nearest credit institution, foreign bank branch, State Treasury, State Bank or hand it over to the police agency, competent military agency, customs agency for transfer to the State Bank. The handover of counterfeit money must be made in writing, clearly stating the type of money, quantity, denomination, and serial number of the counterfeit money to be handed over according to Form No. 04 in the Appendix issued with this Decree. Credit institutions and foreign bank branches must hand over counterfeit money according to the regulations of the State Bank.

Quynh Lien