Over 11,400 market frauds discovered in southern localities

The market management departments of 19 provinces and cities in the south in the first half of the year discovered more than 11,420 violations of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting.
 Over 11,400 market frauds discovered in southern localities ảnh 1A delegate speaks at a first-half market management review held in HCM City (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) - The market management departments of 19 provinces andcities in the south in the first half of the year discovered more than 11,420violations of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting, a year-on-yearincrease of 4 percent, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Market ManagementDepartment.

Phan Hoan Kiem, head of the department, said there were more than10,320 cases with 119.4 billion VND (5.25 million USD) collected.

Kiem spoke at a meeting held in HCM City late last week thatdiscussed coordination of the 19 market management departments in the south andset tasks for the latter half of the year.

Kiem said smuggling had become more sophisticated and complexthrough the use of modern technologies and trans-border smuggling networksconnecting many people.

Smugglers often change their location and timing and use moderntransport and communication means. They do not store smuggled cigarettesin houses or warehouses but rather at vacant sites in deserted areas and waitfor the recipients, he said.

They are willing to flee and resist authorised forces, and do notdeclare ownership of smuggled goods or transport means when they are inspected,according to delegates at the meeting.

Smuggled goods are mainly tobacco, sugar, garments, footwear,household electrical products, cosmetics, glasses, watches, wine, children’stoys, automobile parts and mobile phones.

Authorised forces have improved checks and seized many cases ofsmuggled sugar.

But due to high profits, smugglers have adopted ways to illegallytransport sugar into the country, they said.

In addition, the production and distribution of fake goods isincreasing.

Fake goods are manufactured domestically and smuggled into thecountry, mainly sugar, household utensils, fertilisers, animal feed, seafoodveterinary and gasoline, all of which are hard to distinguish from genuinegoods by the eye.

Kiem said that market management departments in 19 cities andprovinces in the south had successfully worked together in inspection anddiscovery of violations in border areas between provinces and cities, and hadverified and collected documents and evidence to deal with violators.

The co-ordination among market management departments has improvedthe fight against smuggling and trade fraud, but they still encounterdifficulties in carrying out their duties because of a shortage of staff andexpenditures.

In the latter half of the year, market management departments inthe south will further enhance co-operation to prevent and deal with smuggling,trade fraud and sales of counterfeit goods, he said.

They will disseminate information to organisations, individualsand citizens, encouraging them not to take part in the trade or consumption offake or poor quality goods.

Delegates at the meeting suggested that the Government andlocalities launch measures to boost the economy in border areas and create jobsto help prevent locals from taking part in smuggling rings.-VNA
VNA

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