Deputy PM Phuc, who is head of the National Steering Committee on Combating Smuggling, Commercial Fraud, and Counterfeit Goods (Steering Committee 389), made the request while presiding over the committee’s meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday on stepping up the fight against cigarette smuggling.
Reports at the meeting showed that during the year functional forces across the country uncovered 9,682 cases of tobacco trafficking with 10.3 million smuggled cigarette bags seized (up 19% yoy). Authorities prosecuted 179 cases, arresting 263 people and collecting fines worth over VND21 billion.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy PM Phuc asked the Steering Committee 389 and relevant authorities and local agencies to build specific plans with synchronised solutions and close co-ordination in the fight against smuggling. He also requested provinces and cities to launch massive campaigns against contraband tobacco during Tet.
The law enforcement agencies were asked to strengthen investigation, prosecution and trials for cigarette smuggling cases to improve deterrence within the community, as well as strictly implementing the disposal of seized cigarettes.
The government official also suggested promoting dissemination of information to raise public awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco as well as counterfeit goods to people’s health and the community, encouraging locals to actively and positively join hands with local governments and functional forces against contraband and counterfeit goods.
Cigarette smuggling has caused yearly losses of about VND10 trillion (US$440 million) to the State budget, 18,000 tonnes of raw material loss per year, and the unemployment of more than 1 million farmers and workers in the domestic tobacco industry.
Vietnam is among some 14 leading countries in Asia in tobacco consumption as reported by Oxford Economics.
