Hanoi (VNA) – Smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit production and trading, and intellectual property (IP) right infringement remained widespread and increasingly sophisticated in the first half of 2026, affecting business activities, public health and consumer confidence.
The assessment was made by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, head of the National Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods, at a national online conference reviewing the performance in the first six months of the year and setting tasks for the second half on July 7.
He noted that the Government, the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee have issued a series of directives to strengthen efforts against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeits and IP violations, including Official Dispatch No. 38/CD-TTg on intensifying the fight against IP infringement. The Ministry of Public Security, together with ministries, sectors and localities, has launched nationwide crackdowns, uncovering multiple cases involving counterfeits, imitation products and IP violations.
The US has also acknowledged Vietnam's proactive efforts in this area, the official said.
A report by the National Steering Committee showed that authorities detected and handled 67,937 violations in the first half of the year, up 36.66% year-on-year. Budget revenue from enforcement reached nearly 9.65 trillion VND (nearly 367 million USD), an increase of 49.36%, while investigation was launched into 1,676 criminal cases involving 2,789 suspects.
Smuggling activities continued along the Vietnam – China, Vietnam – Laos and Vietnam – Cambodia borders, involving drugs, firecrackers, cigarettes, liquor, sugar, cosmetics, gold, foreign currencies, household goods and frozen food. Smugglers exploited unofficial border crossings, border resident activities, customs clearance procedures and transport vehicles to carry illicit goods.
Common tactics included breaking shipments into smaller consignments, storing them at warehouses near border areas before transporting them inland in multiple stages, and using transit cargo, passenger buses, logistics vehicles. Smugglers also contacted via private groups on Telegram, Zalo and WeChat to coordinate operations and arrange accomplices to watch law enforcement forces to evade detection.
At seaports, offenders took advantage of temporary import-for-re-export schemes, transit cargo and customs clearance procedures to smuggle drugs, fuel, coal, cigarettes, used goods and frozen food. They also falsified product descriptions, origins and values to evade taxes or concealed prohibited goods in legitimate cargo containers.
Meanwhile, airports continued to record cases involving the illegal transport of gold, foreign currencies, counterfeit luxury goods, electronic components, drugs and other prohibited items through international airports.
On the domestic market, authorities also noted a rise in the use of e-commerce platforms, social media and delivery services to distribute smuggled, counterfeit and untraceable goods.
Cyberspace has emerged as the most challenging area, with offenders using Facebook, TikTok, Shopee, Telegram and livestreaming platforms to sell counterfeit and IP-infringing products on a large scale. In some cases, they have employed artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology to manipulate images of doctors, experts and celebrities in false advertisements for dietary supplements, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, according to the committee./.
Nearly 20,000 smuggling, counterfeit cases handled in H1
The domestic market remained generally stable during the period, but smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeits remained complex across many sectors and localities.
