According to the National Steering Committee for Anti-Smuggling, Trade Fraud, and Counterfeit Goods, authorities nationwide detected and handled nearly 44,000 violations in the first four months of 2026, up 31.99% compared with the same period in 2025. Notably, cases involving counterfeit goods and intellectual property rights infringements reached 3,000, an increase of 167.14%.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung signed Official Dispatch No. 38/CD-TTg on intensifying measures to combat, prevent and handle intellectual property rights infringements.
Implementing the dispatch, the Ministry of Public Security, as the leading force in directly combating and suppressing intellectual property crimes, has coordinated with ministries and relevant agencies to identify increasingly sophisticated methods used by economic criminals in the new context. Together with local police forces, it launched a peak period from May 7 to 30, targeting platforms providing pirated content, including films, football broadcasts, music and video games in both Vietnamese and English. The campaign dismantled numerous large-scale networks and organisations involved in intellectual property rights violations, both online and offline.
As a result, numerous websites and platforms hosting pirated films and television programmes with large numbers of visitors, including systems related to Xoi Lac TV and other major piracy websites, were shut down, cutting off revenue streams from illegal advertising. Police in Hung Yen Province prosecuted 23 suspects for using high technology to infringe copyright and related rights, as well as for organising and participating in gambling activities.
During the investigation, the suspects admitted that their copyright infringements primarily involved football tournaments featuring the Viet Nam national team and leading international competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. They were reportedly preparing a systematic plan to infringe broadcasting rights related to the 2026 World Cup before being arrested by police.
In addition, the Investigation Police Agency for Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes (C03) under the Ministry of Public Security initiated five criminal cases involving “Copyright and Related Rights Infringement” under Article 225 of the Criminal Code. The cases targeted businesses engaged in the operation and exploitation of pirated music and entertainment programmes and have been considered as a significant step forward in enforcing intellectual property laws, particularly against the exploitation of unauthorised content on digital platforms.
These cases were handled by the Ministry of Public Security under the principle of “no forbidden zones and no exceptions”, with the aim of enhancing the country's reputation in international integration and building a transparent investment and business environment.
Alongside the digital sector, police forces of provinces and cities have continued to uncover cases involving the production and sale of counterfeit goods imitating major brands. In Ho Chi Minh City, the city's Investigation Police Agency prosecuted Nguyen Tran Viet Hoang and Luu Phat Thuan for “Infringement of Industrial Property Rights” under Article 226 of the Criminal Code. The suspects were found to be trading counterfeit footwear bearing famous US and European Union trademarks protected in Viet Nam.
To carry out their activities, the suspects used Shopee, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts for advertising and sales. The products were purchased through social media channels and then sold on e-commerce platforms. The total value of the two cases was nearly 7 billion VND.
Similarly, in Ninh Binh Province, the provincial Investigation Police Agency initiated criminal proceedings against Tran Cong Tung and La Van Uoc and seized more than 5,000 pairs of counterfeit branded sports shoes and sandals worth more than 3.7 billion VND.
In Tay Ninh Province, the provincial Investigation Police Agency initiated a criminal case and ordered the temporary detention of Do Hong Phat, Nguyen Quoc Huy and Nguyen Huu The for infringing industrial property rights under Clause 2, Article 226 of the Criminal Code.
Earlier, the Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic, Smuggling, and Environment Crimes, in coordination with the Mobile Police Force and Duc Hoa Commune Police, searched the headquarters of a fertiliser manufacturing company in the L.H Industrial Cluster in Duc Hoa Commune, Tay Ninh Province, along with five locations used for the storage, distribution and transportation of fertiliser bearing the State-protected “BACONCO” trademark. Authorities seized more than 70 tonnes of counterfeit fertiliser with an estimated value exceeding 4.5 billion VND.
The Economic Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police also recently dismantled a ring producing and trading counterfeit food additives; and initiated criminal proceedings and ordered the temporary detention of Duong Thi Yen Oanh, Duong Thi Yen Xuan, and Thach Hieu for organising the large-scale production and sale of counterfeit Ajinomoto-branded monosodium glutamate.
The Investigation Police Agency assessed that the production and sale of counterfeit food additives not only infringed the intellectual property rights of businesses but also posed serious risks to consumer health, the business environment and economic management order. The case is under expanded investigation to ensure strict handling of all related individuals.
The fight against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and intellectual property crimes is highly important and requires long-term efforts, therefore, it needs strong involvement from the entire political system, accountability from leaders of local Party committees and authorities, and the business community.
In the coming time, the Ministry of Public Security will continue directing its specialised units and local police forces to accelerate investigations of cases and strive to exceed targets set for the current peak period on fighting against intellectual property crimes. The ministry will also advise the Party and Government on measures to improve the effectiveness of intellectual property rights enforcement. At the same time, it will continue coordinating with media agencies to improve public awareness and compliance with intellectual property laws among citizens and rights holders.
