Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee 389 Dam
Thanh The named authorities’ asynchronous coordination and loopholes in
mechanisms and policies as shortcomings in the fight against smuggling and
counterfeits during a conference in Hanoi on July 11 to review the effort.
The National Steering Committee 389 deals with prevention and
control of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.
In
the first half, the committee’s units inspected 19,057 cases, dealt with 12,162
cases, and launched criminal proceedings against 42 cases with 48 defendants, collecting
1,569.577 billion VND (68.24 million USD) for the State budget, up 172.53
billion VND (7.5 million USD) annually.
Chu
Xuan Kien, Deputy Director of the Hanoi municipal Department of Industry and
Trade, said the trade and transport of illicit and smuggled goods remain
complicated, adding that smugglers often store goods in the northern provinces of
Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and the suburbs of Hanoi, then put them in small
packets for easier transport.
Due
to lax export-import procedures, frauds in customs filling have also occurred.
Counterfeits
and others violating intellectual property rights are not only manufactured at
home but also abroad, then shipped to the domestic market for consumption,
particularly consumer goods, electronics, apparel, footwear, handbags,
cosmetics, food and sport devices.
Some
merchants have even purchased expired or near-expiry goods to correct their
expiry date and sell in remote and suburban areas, mostly confectionary, vegetables
and fruits, and livestock products.
Between
now and the year’s end, particularly before and during the New Year festival
when purchasing power soars, the steering committee’s units were asked to strengthen
inspection on trade, transport and slaughter of poultry, as well as trade in
alcohol, cigarettes and street food.
Vice
Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Le Hong Son asked for
intensifying synchronous collaboration in the effort and increasing
communications campaigns to raise public awareness in the regard.-VNA