Cases of production and trading of fake goods prosecuted

	Fake goods rampant on e-commerce platforms
	Cooperation to prevent banned and fake goods transported by post

Many fake goods are seized by law enforcement forces. Photo: Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance

Trafficking of shoddy goods is still complicated

According to the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance, the illegal cross-border transportation of goods has been closely controlled by law enforcement forces at the two sides of border gates. However, the situation of transporting, producing and trafficking of smuggled goods, counterfeit goods, goods infringing on intellectual property rights, goods of unknown origin, etc., is still complicated with sophisticated tricks. Currently, these goods gathered by smugglers in warehouses located in remote places with few passersby or at home, and then the smugglers have abused e-commerce to sell goods to consumers.

Through combating smuggling, the Market Surveillance force recognized that the smuggled goods included various types such as food, cosmetics, fashion, etc. The local Market Surveillance forces transferred violation cases to the Provincial People's Committee to sanction administrative violations, especially handed over to the Police for investigation and prosecution.

In the first half of 2023 alone, the Market Management Force inspected 35,678 cases, detected and handled 26,195 violations, and fined over VND226 billion. The force transferred 101 criminal cases to the Investigation agency.

At the end of July, the Market Surveillance Force across the country conducted 42,550 inspections, detected and handled 30,953 violations, collected and remitted VND283 billion to the State budget.

In many provinces and cities, after the investigation, the police forces of localities such as HCM City, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa have issued decisions to prosecute offenders for the production and trading of counterfeit goods.

Notably, in Hai Phong, on August 14, the Investigation Police Agency, Hai An District Police issued a Decision to prosecute a case of industrial property rights infringement and a decision to prosecute Mr. Nguyen Van K., residing in Hung Huong hamlet, Dong Hung commune, Tien Lang district, Hai Phong city for infringing industrial property rights as prescribed in Article 226 of the Penal Code 2015.

Earlier, in March, the Market Surveillance Team No. 7, the Hai Phong City Market Surveillance Department coordinated with the Economic Crime Investigation Team and Hai An District Police to inspect the business establishment of Nguyen Van K. During the inspection, the enforcement forces seized 5,940 pairs of fake NIKE, CONVERSE, LOUIS VUTTON, ADIDAS, CROCS, PUMA, MLB…shoes and sandals. These fake products were worth VND1.5 billion.

In Hanoi, on August 3, the Investigation Police Agency, Hoai Duc District Police issued a decision to prosecute the criminal case for “manufacturing and trading in fake food, foodstuffs and food additives”; and prosecuted Mr. Nguyen Phan Quyet, residing in Cao Trung village, Duc Giang commune, Hoai Duc district, Hanoi as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 193 of the Penal Code.

On June 10, Market Surveillance Team No. 24, Hanoi Market Surveillance Department collaborated with Hoai Duc District Police to inspect Hoa Nhan honey production facility owned by Mr. Phan Van Quyet, born in 1972. Notably, this facility produced honey from sugar, malt and malt juice mixed in proportion. Each 70kg of malt produced about 45 liters of honey. In addition, the forces also seized more than 2,000 liters of Huong Nhan honey.

Strictly handling complicated areas

It is forecast that the market situation will still see complicated developments, especially in the peak months of holidays and Tet, to stabilize the market and improve the effectiveness of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and fake goods, the Market Surveillance will completely handle the violations in the provinces and cities; assign responsibility for area management to each officer and leader.

The market surveillance force will focus on inspecting and controlling sectors and products that have a great impact on the economy, society, domestic production and consumer interests such as alcohol, tobacco materials, tobacco products, food, fertilizers, pesticides, livestock, poultry, animal feed, aqua feed, petroleum, liquefied petroleum gas, food Supplements, electronics, fashion products, cosmetics, sugar, chemicals...

The force will also strengthen discipline to improve the quality of public service activities; strictly prevent and handle officers and party members who degrade in political ideology, morality and lifestyle, especially officers supporting for smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods.