The market management bureau in HCM City has reported that the illegal trading, transportation and storage of smuggled goods had increased in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.
Smuggled goods accounted for the majority of market violations found over the past six months, officials said, adding that other illegal acts included trade in forbidden and fake goods, the use of fake invoices and accounting irregularities.
Smuggled items, mostly consumer goods, were being brought into the country through northern, central and southwestern border provinces, the officials said. Other forms of smuggling included making false declarations about the quantity and quality of imported commodities, they added.
Motorbikes and coaches were used to transport smuggled cigarettes on National Highways 1 and 22, and along provincial roads from southwestern border provinces to outlets and warehouses in HCM City .
In the first six months of the year, the bureau discovered 186 cases of trafficking and trading foreign smuggled cigarettes. They confiscated 104,000 cigarette packets, half of which were of Jet and Hero brands. During this period, the bureau also recorded 142 cases of illegal transportation, trading and storage of foreign liquor.
Officials of the bureau also said that fake products were being widely bought and sold at many of the city's market stalls, trade centres, and on the streets.
Most of these items are imitations of famous foreign brands of watches, sunglasses, handbags, cell phones, footwear, clothing and cosmetics that are sold at low prices.
In the first half of the year, officials discovered 321 cases of trading in fake products.
They confiscated 127,231 items and handed over to investigating agencies 13.8 tonnes of fake fertiliser.
Scores of cases involving fake crash helmets and fake LPG (cooking gas) cylinders were also found.
Retail outlets placed the fake cylinders amidst genuine ones, making it difficult to detect them.
Meanwhile, in a highly risky venture, LPG was being illegally extracted and refilled in cylinders in neighbouring provinces and brought to HCM City by trucks, officials said at the meeting. /.
Smuggled goods accounted for the majority of market violations found over the past six months, officials said, adding that other illegal acts included trade in forbidden and fake goods, the use of fake invoices and accounting irregularities.
Smuggled items, mostly consumer goods, were being brought into the country through northern, central and southwestern border provinces, the officials said. Other forms of smuggling included making false declarations about the quantity and quality of imported commodities, they added.
Motorbikes and coaches were used to transport smuggled cigarettes on National Highways 1 and 22, and along provincial roads from southwestern border provinces to outlets and warehouses in HCM City .
In the first six months of the year, the bureau discovered 186 cases of trafficking and trading foreign smuggled cigarettes. They confiscated 104,000 cigarette packets, half of which were of Jet and Hero brands. During this period, the bureau also recorded 142 cases of illegal transportation, trading and storage of foreign liquor.
Officials of the bureau also said that fake products were being widely bought and sold at many of the city's market stalls, trade centres, and on the streets.
Most of these items are imitations of famous foreign brands of watches, sunglasses, handbags, cell phones, footwear, clothing and cosmetics that are sold at low prices.
In the first half of the year, officials discovered 321 cases of trading in fake products.
They confiscated 127,231 items and handed over to investigating agencies 13.8 tonnes of fake fertiliser.
Scores of cases involving fake crash helmets and fake LPG (cooking gas) cylinders were also found.
Retail outlets placed the fake cylinders amidst genuine ones, making it difficult to detect them.
Meanwhile, in a highly risky venture, LPG was being illegally extracted and refilled in cylinders in neighbouring provinces and brought to HCM City by trucks, officials said at the meeting. /.
