Many big challenges
According to a report from the Steering Committee 389 of Hanoi City, in October 2024, local authorities handled 2,295 cases related to prohibited goods, smuggled goods, counterfeit goods, and trade fraud, collecting more than VND 294.3 billion for the state budget. Despite the encouraging results, the situation is still very complicated, especially as the year ends, smuggling and counterfeit production are expected to increase.
Notably, in the process of inspecting and handling violations, authorities have encountered many obstacles due to increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud and smuggling and counterfeit goods trading.
According to Chu Xuan Kien, Director of the Hanoi Market Management Department, for smuggling, subjects often take advantage of hiding goods in warehouses outside the city, using warehouses in private homes or high-end apartments, making it difficult for functional forces to inspect and handle the work.
Even smuggled and counterfeit goods are transported together with legal goods, without declaration, and the customs declaration is not consistent with the actual goods... Meanwhile, in Hanoi there are currently up to 500 postal transport enterprises, but they are not responsible for the origin of the goods, and at the same time, payment is made through intermediaries... so verifying information about smuggled goods traders is difficult.
In addition, the explosion of information technology services and the increasing demand for buying and selling of people through the internet environment, proactively detecting violations on the internet environment is facing many difficulties because violators often introduce genuine products on the website, but when delivering the goods, they are fake, of unknown origin, and of poor quality.
Many people have encountered cases of "false advertising" but have not reported them to the authorities because the value of the goods was not high.
According to the Steering Committee 389 of Hanoi city, a part of the functional forces are not really specialized in their profession; equipment is still lacking, not meeting the requirements of the task of fighting and preventing crime in the new situation.
Some legal documents related to the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods are not really strict, leading to contradictory regulations, causing difficulties and obstacles in the process of resolving cases...
Strengthening inter-sectoral coordination
During the peak period of fighting smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at the end of 2024, the City's Interdisciplinary Inspection Team 389 chaired by the Hanoi Market Management Department, in coordination with member units, continuously discovered cases of trading in counterfeit goods with large quantities.
Typically, on November 11, 2024, Interdisciplinary Inspection Team No. 1 (City Steering Committee 389) led by Market Management Team No. 1 (Hanoi Market Management Department) inspected, discovered and seized thousands of products and items with signs of counterfeiting famous car brands in Hoai Duc district.
At the time of inspection, the Inspection Team discovered that the facility was using industrial sewing machines to sew items with signs of counterfeiting famous brands such as: BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda... onto auto accessories.
Interdisciplinary inspection team No. 1 has temporarily seized 1,851 finished products and items with signs of counterfeiting famous brands. The case is being further verified and handled according to the provisions of law.
Previously, on November 8, 2024, Interdisciplinary Inspection Team No. 1 also discovered and seized over 10,000 pairs of socks with signs of counterfeiting famous brands such as MLB, Gucci, Nike, Lacoste... after a surprise inspection of a business household on Dinh Xuyen Street, Gia Lam District.
According to Chu Xuan Kien, Director of the Hanoi Market Management Department, inter-sectoral coordination between units such as the Police, Customs Department, Tax Department and related departments and branches will strengthen the detection and thorough handling of violations.
The peak period of fighting smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at the end of 2024 focuses on essential goods with high demand during Tet such as food, beverages, electronics, household appliances, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and energy.
In the coming time, the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team will continue to be deployed according to the plan of the Steering Committee 389 of Hanoi City with the goal of ensuring market stability and meeting the demand for essential goods during holidays and Tet.
Continue to strengthen coordination with news agencies and press to promote propaganda; promptly reflect the situation and results of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods; publicize hotline numbers to receive and handle reports on smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.
At the same time, in addition to the strong involvement of the authorities, each citizen needs to raise awareness and say no to goods of unknown origin. Only then will the market be truly stable and healthy during the peak period at the end of the year.
