HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình has asked all ministries, sectors and localities to work harder to fight smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods during the coming Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

In the document sent to Government bodies and localities, Bình, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Fake Commodities, said cases of smuggling, trade fraud and fake goods were forecast to get more complicated, seriously affecting market stability, health of consumers and social security.

As a result, the committee asked all agencies to intensify the fight against such crimes.

Police, market watch inspectors and specialised inspection teams have been asked to co-operate closely to control the domestic market, intensify supervision and handle violations related to smuggling, trade fraud, production and trade of fake goods.

Inspection teams are responsible for checking business conditions, products’ origin and labelling to ensure quality standards.

Border guards have been asked to instruct all units to co-operate with relevant forces, including public security, coast guard and customs, to detect and handle illegal cross-border goods transportation and trade fraud in border gate areas, canals and rivers, and closely control goods and luggage of passengers at entry or exit via air routes, road and waterway.

In particular, sea border soldiers are responsible for strengthening patrol and deterring oil, gas and natural resource smuggling in the northeast and southwest sea areas.

The committee estimated that during the first 10 months of this year, as many as 181,000 cases of smuggling, trade fraud and fake commodities were detected, an increase of some 35 per cent compared with the previous year. Total fines amounted to nearly VNĐ19 trillion (US$836 million). — VNS