Promoting the responsibility of heads of agencies and units in crime prevention and control.

In 2018, 2,721 gangs of various types were dismantled.

According to a report by the Ministry of Public Security - the Standing Agency of the Government's Steering Committee 138: In 2018, ministries, sectors, organizations, and localities paid close attention to and vigorously implemented the Directives, Resolutions, programs, and plans of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Steering Committee 138/CP on crime prevention and control; ensuring absolute safety for political, economic, and cultural events of the country.

Attending the conference at the Nghe An branch were Mr. Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with members of the Provincial Steering Committee 389 and the Provincial Steering Committee for Crime Prevention, Social Evils Control and the National Movement for Protecting National Security. Photo: Dang Cuong

The Steering Committee 138 at all levels has proactively advised leaders at all levels to issue policies, strategies, and plans to guide crime prevention and control, combating human trafficking, and promptly resolving complex issues related to crime and social order.

During the year, authorities investigated and uncovered 43,826 criminal cases, arresting and prosecuting 87,769 individuals, achieving a success rate of 82.32% (1.9% higher than in 2017). Focusing on cracking down on and dismantling organized crime, 2,721 gangs of various types were dismantled in 2018. 4,881 wanted individuals were arrested, persuaded to surrender, or removed from the wanted list. The rate of resolving and processing crime reports, denunciations, and requests for prosecution reached 90.22%.

Authorities detected 15,819 economic crimes; 378 cases of corruption and abuse of power; 2,384 cases of smuggling; 97 cases of high-tech crimes; 24,642 violations of environmental laws; and 22,831 cases, resulting in the arrest of 33,874 individuals involved in drug-related crimes.

In Nghe An province, in 2018, following the directives of the Government, central ministries and agencies, the National Steering Committee 389, the Provincial Party Committee, and the Provincial People's Committee, the province directed relevant sectors and localities to strengthen the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods. During the year, 10,116 cases were inspected and penalized, with a total fine revenue of 294 billion VND.

International cooperation has been strengthened, especially with law enforcement agencies in China, Cambodia, and Laos, in maintaining regular meetings and exchanges at all levels, establishing and maintaining hotlines for exchanging information on crimes, and coordinating investigations, arrests, extradition of criminals, apprehending wanted criminals, rescuing and repatriating victims...

In 2018, the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, from the central to local levels, gradually became more systematic and effective. 202,980 violations were detected, apprehended, and processed (a 10% decrease compared to the same period in 2017), resulting in the collection of 20,123 billion 508 million VND for the State budget (a 12% decrease compared to the same period in 2017). 1,979 cases were prosecuted (a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2017), involving 2,339 individuals (a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2017).

Proactively anticipate the situation and avoid being caught off guard.

Delivering a keynote address at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh commended and highly appreciated the results and achievements of ministries, sectors, and localities in the fight against crime, smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in 2018.

However, crime prevention and control, including combating smuggling, still have shortcomings and limitations such as: In some cases, information gathering is slow, leading to a loss of security and order, and some serious crimes still occur; in many places, crimes related to "protection rackets" and "loan sharking" still occur, leading to debt collection, extortion, and illegal detention...

Handling counterfeit and pirated goods at the Nghe An Market Management Department. (Photo: Archival image)

At the conference, delegates from various sectors and localities focused on discussing, proposing ideas, and exchanging solutions and experiences in combating, preventing, and curbing crime and social evils, preventing and combating human trafficking, and combating commercial fraud in the coming period.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh requested that in the coming period, members of the Steering Committee 138 at all levels continue to advise Party committees and authorities at all levels to thoroughly understand and implement the Directives and Resolutions of the Party and Government on crime prevention and control; and to identify these areas of work as important and regular tasks.

Comrade Truong Hoa Binh - Member of the Political Bureau, Standing Deputy Prime Minister of the Government, concluded the conference. Photo: Dang Cuong

In particular, it is necessary to focus on effectively combating types of crimes that cause public outrage, such as: organized crime, economic crime, corruption, high-tech crime, and violations of environmental laws. At the same time, comprehensively and decisively implement necessary professional measures to ensure political security and social order during important events and major national and local holidays...

Promote the role of heads of agencies and units in the fight against crime. Strengthen decentralization coupled with inspection and evaluation, selecting leaders with a high sense of responsibility and determination in preventing and combating crime and smuggling. Strengthen inspections and audits within crime prevention agencies, resolutely removing officials who are biased or irresponsible...

Proactively anticipate the situation and avoid being caught off guard. Conduct thorough basic investigations and establish effective strategies for combating smuggling. Pay particular attention to promptly inspecting and addressing smuggling, the production and sale of counterfeit and substandard goods, and commercial fraud before, during, and after the Lunar New Year (Year of the Pig).