Coordinating in information exchange to tackle violations

Head of the National Steering Committee 389 Le Thanh Hai.

How do you assess the smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across border gates of Northern provinces?

In the first months of the year, the smuggling and illegal transportation of goods mainly are related to medical equipment and supplies, consumer goods and frozen foods. In general, the situation has sharply decreased compared with previous years.

The number of cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across areas such as Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Lao Cai has plunged.

What is the reason for the decline, Sir?

The decline in the Northern border results from subjective and objective reasons as follows:

For the objective reasons, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, all neighboring countries, especially China, strictly controlled and prevented entry and exit, smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the borders. Therefore, the volume of imports and exports, people and means of transport on exit and entry reduced, especially the movement of border residents.

For the subjective reason, the National Steering Committee 389 directed law enforcement forces, especially the border localities, to drastically take measures to detect and handle violations.

For example, Official Letter 741/VPCP-V.I dated January 28, 2022 of the Government Office on strengthening the fight against smuggling and trade fraud for cigarettes and sugar; Official Dispatch 1669/VPCP-V.I dated March 17, 2022 on strengthening the fight against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods for biological products, medical supplies and equipment for the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic; Official Dispatch 3986/VPCP-V.I dated June 28, 2022 requesting effective implementation of Plan 399/KH-BCD389 dated October 10, 2020 of the National Steering Committee 389 on anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in e-commerce activities.

It is forecast that when the pandemic is under control, import and export activities will resume, leading to the risks of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods on the northern border. How do you assess this statement?

In the last months of the year, the Government will continue to drastically direct the implementation of programs for socio-economic recovery and development amid the complicated and unpredictable development of the world and the region; the increased inflation pressure in the domestic market; the high demand for production and consumption, the large fluctuation and difference in the goods price between domestic and foreign regions and areas, especially the scarcity and the surge in the prices of major commodities such as gold, energy, food, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, input materials of manufacturing industries. These are reasons for smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, as well as challenges for all law enforcement forces.

In addition, the Chinese government has eased the import and export activities, this is the risk of increasing smuggling activities, and illegal transportation of goods on this key route.

With the role of advising and assisting the National Steering Committee 389, what are solutions advised by the Standing Office to prevent and handle this situation?

Motivated by the forecast of the situation, to effectively perform the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the near future, the Standing Office has advised and submitted to the National Steering Committee 389 to request ministries, sectors and localities to regularly provide solutions from the current date to the end of the year, focusing on key solutions such as:

Firstly, continue to effectively implement Resolutions and Directives of the Party, National Assembly, Government, Prime Minister, and Head of the National Steering Committee 389. In the process of implementation, it is necessary to train officers and law enforcement forces to participate in the fight against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods, to perform their assigned tasks, especially not to support these activities.

Second, the Steering Committee 389 of the ministries, sectors and agencies will investigate and grasp the situation to detect gangs, groups, areas and when smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods often take place and tackle the perpetrators.

Third, strengthen the dissemination for the people not to support smuggling activities; widely publicize in society to minimize trafficking and consumption of goods of unknown origin, protect domestic production and the interests of consumers, especially in remote and isolated areas, difficult economic zones; and create jobs for people.

Fourth, strengthen coordination between competent forces, localities and members of the National Steering Committee 389 to share and provide information to handle smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods.

Thank you Sir!