Deputy PM affirms determination to combat smuggling
Addressing
the launching ceremony and the first meeting of the National Steering
Committee on the Prevention and Control of Smuggling, Trade Fraud and
Fake Commodities (also known as Steering Committee 389) in Hanoi on
April 8, he said smuggling and fraud remain serious problems, affecting
the people’s health and domestic production.
Deputy
PM Phuc, who is also head of the committee, urged the media to enhance
communications against fake goods, helping people recognise and boycott
low-quality products to protect themselves.
According to Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen
Thanh Cung – deputy head of the committee – it is necessary to assign a
specific force in every locality to take the charge in preventing
smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit commodities.
The leader of the force will be responsible if the situation lingers in that locality, he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant
General Le Quy Vuong, another deputy head of the committee, noted that
more effective measures should be taken to prevent smuggling across
land, air and marine border lines, especially in the north where poultry
and low-quality food trafficking remains serious.
According to a report by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, authorities
detected 32,000 smuggling cases with goods totally valued at 430
billion VND in 2013, up nearly 8,500 cases.
The Coast Guard, Maritime Border Guard and customs forces handled nearly 940 trafficking cases.
The Steering Committee is upgraded from Steering Committee 127, with
members coming from all ministries and sectors, aiming to increase the
efficiency of smuggling, trade fraud and fake commodities prevention and
control.
Deputy PM Phuc also called on ministries
and localities to introduce competent officials to join the committee at
the local level.-VNA