As reported by Committee 389, during the Lunar New Year holiday and the first quarter of 2015, the Steering Committee, in collaboration with northern border localities, has handled 6,491 violations with fines amounting to over VND239 billion (US$11 million), of which 675 criminal cases involving 936 individuals were prosecuted.
Delegates at the session proclaimed that smuggling and trade fraud has become increasingly sophisticated across the northern border. Smuggling operations are constantly changing, making catching them more difficult ─ smugglers have shifted away from long known hot-spots and are shipping goods by water and air rather than solely by road.
Participants went on to discuss efficient measures to counter smuggling and strengthening co-ordination in the work, as well as focusing on handling gaps in policies and mechanisms, and enhancing equipment and funding for functional forces in preventing smuggling.
Speaking at the conference, Minister of Finance and Permanent Deputy Head of the Committee 389, Dinh Tien Dung, urged relevant authorities to strengthen co-operation in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting goods.
Agencies should strengthen patrols over the borders and investigations, at the same time improving communication campaigns to raise consumer awareness about preventing smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting goods, and helping domestic enterprises to improve product quality and reputation.
He also asked the committee to review and make recommendations for the government to amend provisions on administrative penalties and others related to combating smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods.
