Nearly 2 million cases related to smuggling, counterfeiting, and other trade frauds have been uncovered in Vietnam between 2001 and 2010.
 |
| Tobacco smuggling emerging as the biggest problem |
Nguyen Hung Dung, Head of the Central Steering Committee against Smuggling, Fake Goods and Trade Frauds or (Central Steering Committee 127), said, bringing these violators to justice has added a total of VND28 trillion (USD1.36 billion) to the state budget.
Of the sum, administrative fines accounted for VND4.5 billion (USD218,446), tax fines and recollection made up nearly VND18 trillion (USD873.8 million), and the rest came from confiscated goods, Dung added at a recent meeting.
At the same meeting, Do Thanh Hoa, Director of Tay Ninh Province’s Department of Industry and Trade, said, currently the biggest problem is tobacco smuggling, particularly brands 555 and JET. Smugglers often transport tobacco in small amounts, distributing them to different localities; but enforcement manpower is stretched thin.
He added that petroleum smuggling has not been a big problem because of the small disparity in prices between Vietnam and neighbouring countries.
Over the past decade, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Lang Son, An Giang, Tay Ninh and Quang Tri were hot spots for these activities. During the period, Hanoi uncovered roughly 75,000 cases of smuggling and false merchandising.
