The Prime Minister requested to resolutely declare war on crimes of producing, trading, and selling fake drugs and fake food.

On the afternoon of June 23, Comrade Pham Minh Chinh - Politburo member, Prime Minister of the Government chaired the National Online Conference to review the work in the first 6 months of 2025 and summarize the peak period of fighting, preventing and repelling smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and infringement of intellectual property rights.

Co-chaired by Comrade Bui Thanh Son - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods (National Steering Committee 389); Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies; Leaders of ministries, branches, agencies and leaders of provinces and centrally run cities.

The conference was held live at the Government Headquarters connecting to the Headquarters of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities. Comrade Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired at the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee bridge; also attending were Comrade Phung Thanh Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and members of the Provincial Steering Committee 389.

Dismantling many organizations, networks, groups, and subjects producing and trading counterfeit goods

Faced with the complicated situation of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property infringement across the country, affecting people's health and trust, causing confusion and anxiety in public opinion about the fight of functional forces, affecting social order and safety and the development of the country, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 65/CD-TTg on launching a peak period to fight, prevent, and repel smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property infringement, from May 15 to June 15, 2025.

Then, on May 17, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 13/CT-TTg to combat, prevent, repel, and eventually end smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights to protect the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses, and protect the security and health of the people.

The peak period of declaring war on smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods was carried out with the spirit of "clearly defining people, clearly defining work, clearly defining time, clearly defining responsibility, clearly defining authority, and clearly defining products"; associated with the motto of "handling one case, alerting the entire region and field", "no forbidden areas, no exceptions".

According to the National Steering Committee 389, the results have discovered, fought, and destroyed many organizations, networks, gangs, and subjects of smuggling, trade fraud, illegal transportation of goods, prohibited goods, production, and trading of counterfeit goods, goods of unknown origin, and infringement of intellectual property rights on a large scale, operating inter-provincially, contributing to protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of people and businesses, and protecting security and health safety for people.

Units and localities arrested and handled 10,437 cases of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods (up 80.51% compared to May); of which 1,936 cases of trading and transporting prohibited and smuggled goods (up 173.45% compared to May); 6,870 cases of trade fraud and tax fraud (up 50.72% compared to May); 1,631 cases of counterfeit goods and intellectual property rights infringement (up 216.09% compared to May); collected VND 1,279 billion for the state budget (up 258.43% compared to May); temporarily detained goods and exhibits worth an estimated VND 4,075 billion; prosecuted 204 cases/378 defendants. Notably, according to statistics, more than 5,500 stores nationwide closed or temporarily suspended operations to wait for an opportunity.

In Nghe An, during the peak month, the functional forces in the Steering Committee 389 of Nghe An province organized inspections and sanctioned 345 administrative violations; prosecuted 2 cases/9 subjects (violations related to drugs). The total value of fines collected was more than 6.2 billion VND.

On May 27, 2025, the Department of Investigation Police on Crimes of Corruption, Economy and Smuggling of Nghe An Provincial Police issued a decision to prosecute the case and prosecute 4 subjects for the crime of trading in counterfeit goods; the case's exhibits included 480,000 products of various types without documents proving the origin of brands of shampoo, fabric softener, and toothpaste with a total value of more than 523 million VND.

With its drastic and effective participation, Nghe An is one of the units and localities recognized by the National Steering Committee 389 for its outstanding and typical achievements during the peak month.

"Every citizen is a soldier" in the fight against counterfeit goods

Concluding the conference to review the work of the first 6 months of the year and summarize the peak period of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged and highly appreciated the drastic and effective participation of ministries, branches, localities and working groups in the past time, especially in the last peak month.

At the same time, the Prime Minister pointed out the shortcomings, limitations and causes, emphasizing the objective causes that still exist in the direction, administration and implementation.

The Prime Minister emphasized the attention, leadership and close direction of the Party and State, especially General Secretary To Lam, towards this work. On that basis, the Prime Minister requested to continue to adhere to the goal, resolutely prevent, combat, stop, repel, and move towards eliminating and ending the situation of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights.

This is not only an urgent requirement to protect the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses, but also an important task to ensure social security and safety, protect people's health and lives, and serve the country's rapid and sustainable development.

According to the Prime Minister, it is necessary to identify this as a central, long-term and regular task that must be carried out continuously and without interruption, without any forbidden areas or exceptions. The entire political system must take drastic and synchronous action; people and businesses need to actively participate to create a combined strength in the fight against violations of the law.

In particular, the Prime Minister noted the need to focus on and resolutely declare war on the crime of producing, trading, and selling fake drugs and fake food, because these are acts that seriously endanger the health and lives of the people. The authorities must act with the spirit of not retreating, not compromising, handling to the end, doing it by all means; ensuring that the fight achieves specific, substantial results, bringing confidence and excitement to the people.

The Prime Minister requested all levels, sectors and localities to continue to improve their State management capacity; organize regular and continuous campaigns, "working day, night, working extra on holidays", with the spirit of "handling one case, warning the whole region, the whole field", absolutely not being negligent or lax at any time. Along with that, it is necessary to proactively review and perfect mechanisms, policies, and related legal regulations; strengthen inspection, supervision, and urging implementation, ensuring that management work is more rigorous and effective.

In particular, the Prime Minister emphasized the role of the people in the fight against violations. Accordingly, it is necessary to launch the movement "every citizen is a soldier" in the fight against counterfeit goods, smuggling, and trade fraud; at the same time, be a smart, responsible consumer, know how to choose products with clear origin, do not support counterfeit and poor quality goods.

Regarding tasks and solutions for the coming time, the Prime Minister requested to accelerate the improvement of institutions, including amending and supplementing a number of laws and decrees in 2025 to meet practical requirements. At the same time, the organization must be strong enough, clearly defining the functions, tasks and powers of each sector and each level; ensuring financial resources, means and technology, especially applying digital transformation in management, inspection and supervision.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to build a team of professional officials with high courage, responsibility, clear ethics, and a humane spirit in performing public duties. Along with that, it is necessary to mobilize the strength of the entire political system, build mechanisms and policies for people and businesses to participate and make positive contributions. The dissemination of policies and laws also needs to be strengthened to raise awareness and create consensus in society.

Regarding specific assignments, the Prime Minister has clearly assigned tasks to each ministry, branch, and locality. In particular, from July 1, 2025, the official time to implement the two-level local government organization model, the Prime Minister requested that the Provincial Party Secretaries and Provincial People's Committee Chairmen continue to pay attention to and direct, considering this one of the key tasks that need to be led and organized with high determination, strong action, and substantial effectiveness.