Strictly handle cases of violations, cover-up, and abetting smuggling.

(Baonghean.vn) - That is the recommendation of the National Steering Committee 389 on combating smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at the conference to deploy tasks for the last 6 months of the year.

In recent times, smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border have become more complicated, with the focus being on trails, openings, canals, and border rivers. Violating goods are diverse, focusing on essential consumer goods and goods with high tax rates.

Domestically, the illegal trading, consumption and transportation of smuggled, banned, counterfeit and poor quality goods, violations of price listing regulations, and trading of expired goods and goods of unknown origin still occur in many localities, especially in large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh presided at the Hanoi end. Photo: TH

Implementing the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the direction of the National Steering Committee 389, the work of combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods has achieved important results. In the first 6 months of 2017, the authorities discovered 88,564 violations, collecting nearly 8,000 billion VND from administrative fines, confiscated goods, and inspection, examination, and tax collection for the state budget, an increase of 40.44% over the same period in 2016; prosecuting 1,189 cases with 1,372 subjects.

Cosmetics of unknown origin were seized by the Market Management Force. Photo: Thu Huyen

At the meeting, many localities said that they should not destroy high-quality smuggled goods to use the money to fight smuggling, but only destroy low-quality goods. For a long time, we have been destroying valuable smuggled goods, which is both costly and wasteful. In addition, the most smuggled goods today are Chinese goods to Vietnam, so the Central Government should pay more attention to Lang Son province in terms of manpower, means, and budget because tightening the situation in Lang Son will greatly limit the work of fighting smuggling for the whole country.

The National Steering Committee 389 also believes that, in addition to commending and setting examples for collectives and individuals with achievements, it is necessary to resolutely and strictly handle cases of violations, cover-ups, and abetting smuggling; prevent negative manifestations and corruption of officials and civil servants of functional forces from the central to local levels...

Awarding certificates of merit from the National Steering Committee 389 to individuals with high achievements in the work of preventing smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods. Photo: Thu Huyen

In Nghe An, the Provincial Steering Committee 389 directed functional forces to strengthen coordination in inspection and control at key areas and routes for smuggling, gathering places for counterfeit goods, fake goods, poor quality goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights, goods violating food safety and hygiene, and multi-level goods. In the first 6 months of 2017, the forces inspected 5,701 cases, with a total estimated fine value of 209 billion VND. Of which: Administrative fines of nearly 60 billion VND; value of confiscated goods of more than 8.6 billion VND; value of confiscated evidence in the period not yet liquidated of more than 13 billion VND.

On this occasion, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee awarded certificates of merit to 6 groups and 4 individuals; National Steering Committee 389 awarded certificates of merit to 3 groups and 3 individuals with outstanding achievements in the work of preventing smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

Many counterfeit and fraudulent goods in Nghe An were destroyed by authorities. Photo: Thu Huyen

Currently, the situation of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods is still complicated. Therefore, implementing the tasks for the last 6 months of the year, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh requested ministries, branches and localities to implement Plan No. 410 of the National Steering Committee 389 on strengthening inspection, examination and control to combat smuggling and trade fraud of gasoline. Advise the Prime Minister to issue a directive on strengthening the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and functional foods. Develop and implement a plan to strengthen the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods for fertilizers and pesticides.

The Deputy Prime Minister also directed local units to develop and implement programs to inspect and control the market, combat smuggling and trade fraud, and according to their functions, areas and management fields, develop specialized plans to fight with focus and key points in the areas and management fields to organize and coordinate timely and effective arrests. In particular, it is necessary to pay special attention to strictly managing and controlling prohibited goods, counterfeit goods, intellectual property violations, goods that pose a risk to public health, etc.

Thu Huyen