Illegal transportation of firecrackers near Lunar New Year 2020

	Stressfully prevent smuggled firecrackers
	Lang Son Customs: drastically prevent smuggled firecrackers at the end of the year
	Lang Son: Arrest a subject who stored nearly 3 quintal of firecrackers

Dam Thanh The (middle), Head of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389.

Seized nearly 13 tonnes of firecrackers

This was stated by Dam Thanh The, the Head of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389 at the press conference about the results of the anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the third quarter and deployment of tasks in the fourth quarter that took place on October 24.

According to The, smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in border gates and localities in the country is a problem. Especially, the emergence of illegal drug transportation, hiring warehouse for drug production, trading of goods made from foreign countries, counterfeit goods, imitation goods, goods with forged Vietnamese origin and labels for trade fraud are causing budget revenue losses, affecting the reputation of Vietnamese enterprises and causing damage to consumers.

By the end of the third quarter, forces detected, arrested and handled 149,502 violations (down 18 percent compared to 2018), collected and contributed VND 12,388 billion 709 million (down 11 percent to 2018).

Although the number of detected and handled cases decreased compared to 2018, the number of prosecuted cases increased by 40 percent with 1,635 cases and 1,908 subjects (up 44 percent compared to 2018).

“Especially, although the Lunar New Year 2020 has not come yet, the trafficking and illegal transportation of firecrackers has taken place complicatedly. Recently, competent forces seized a case of transporting nearly 13 tonnes of firecracker in Lang Son province” The said.

Therefore, the fighting and handling of violations related to firecrackers will be one of the key tasks of the competent forces and localities in the near future.

Firecrackers recently seized by competent forces in Lang Son. Photo: T.H

In addition, for the fight against smuggling, trade frauds and counterfeit goods in the coming time, especially the peak period before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2020, The said that the National Steering Committee 389 set out key tasks.

Specifically, the National Steering Committee Office 389 requested Steering Committee 389 of the ministries, branches, localities and competent forces to comply with directions of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee of 389.

They were also told to strengthen the inspection and control of the market to promptly detect and strictly handle smuggling, production and trafficking of counterfeit goods, food safety violations, infringing goods; goods with forced Vietnamese origin and labels, as well as focus on grasping the situation, checking, inspecting and urging the anti-smuggling, trade frauds and counterfeit goods

Steering Committee 389 of the ministries, sectors and localities should direct competent forces to understand smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in fields and areas under their management to identify emerging situations and items to develop plans for prevention. At the same time, proactively developing and implementing struggling plans for the Lunar New Year 2020.

Focusing on propaganda, amendment, supplementation and the completion of legal documents related to anti-smuggling, trade frauds and counterfeit goods to be consistent with reality is also important.

Responding to a reporter's question at a press conference about handling officers who violate the law in performing anti-smuggling work, The said the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee 389 rewarded officers who achieved positive results in anti-smuggling. Besides, officers who violated were strictly handled.

A reporter raises questions at the press conference. Photo: T.B

“There are officers who working in the anti-smuggling, trade frauds and counterfeit goods but they violated regulations, were arrested and handled according to the provisions of law such as some officers of the Surveillance Force in Nghe An, Soc Trang and other provinces. The Border Guard High Command and the General Department of Vietnam Customs handled responsibilities of officials managing the areas where have complicated cases. The Border Guard High Command dismissed the head of Border Guard Station and reduced ranks of officers lacking responsibilities for complicated cases mentioned by the press,” The said.

At the press conference, many questions about the Asanzo Group Joint Stock Company were asked to the Head of the Standing Office of Steering Committee 389 and representatives of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Vietnam Customs), representatives of General Department of Market Surveillance.

According to the Head of the IPR Protection Enforcement Unit (Unit 4, Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, General Department of Vietnam Customs) Nguyen Van Ba, currently, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has identified two violation signs of Asanzo Group Joint Stock Company. It is a sign of industrial property infringement on trademark and tax evasion.

In the next week, the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Vietnam Customs) will hold an interdisciplinary meeting with relevant ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to unify and complete the report to the Standing Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh - Head of 389 National Steering Committee.

Customs will hold a press conference to provide information on the collected evidence and documents.