It is necessary to promptly detect and handle violators; and at the same time, strictly discipline officials, public servants, and officers who show signs of moral degradation, corruption, or collusion with lawbreakers, in line with the principles of “handling one case to warn an entire region or sector” and “no forbidden zones, no exceptions,” the official dispatch stresses.
Although the Prime Minister initially set a one-month campaign, the Ministry of Public Security proactively extended it to three months, starting from May 15, said spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security Maj. Gen. Nguyen Quoc Toan at the Government’s regular monthly press conference on June 4.
Combatting the production and sale of counterfeit food and medicine has long been closely monitored by the Government, the health ministry and relevant agencies.
The Government leader highlighted in the document that despite initial progress in efforts against the illegal practices, with the detection and disruption of multiple operations involving counterfeit milk, pharmaceuticals, and food items, the situation remains extremely complicated.
At a working session with ministries, central agencies, and relevant units on May 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed a special task force be formed and a month-long nationwide crackdown launched to fight smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeits, low-quality goods, those with unverified origin, and intellectual property-infringing products.
The Ministry of Public Security will coordinate with other ministries and localities to launch the crackdown, which will run nationwide from May 15 to June 15.
Counterfeit products are being sold widely on social media, with reports of price manipulation, hoarding, and illegal mark-ups, PM Chinh noted, emphasising that these activities negatively impact public health, people's trust, security and order, and lead to significant revenue losses, further disrupting many aspects of social life.
To meet the 2025 revenue target of 411 trillion VND, a 9.6% rise from 2024, the department has instructed regional customs offices to implement measures to boost revenue tailored to local conditions while preventing budget losses.
Statistics showed that since 2024, there have been 27 documented cases involving Sunview raisins, resulting in fines of over 536 million VND (21,440 USD), primarily due to the sale of smuggled goods and products of unclear origin.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on August 8 urged ministries, sectors, and localities to enhance the use of digital technology to promptly detect and address smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the context of the rapid development of e-commerce.
State budget revenue from exports and imports in January reached 30.64 trillion VND (1.25 billion VND), equivalent to 8.2% of the estimate, and up 13.2% year-on-year, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) reported on February 6.
The northern province of Bac Giang will step up the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the locality, according to head of the provincial market management agency Chu Thanh Hien.
Ho Chi Minh City is to step up efforts in inspections to prevent trade fraud and smuggling after some of its inspections were suspended due to COVID-19, said Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee Phan Thi Thang.
The General Department for Market Surveillance has shown determination in the fight against counterfeit goods and trade fraud products in e-commerce channels.
Officers tasked with preventing fake goods, trade fraud and smuggling in Ho Chi Minh City and southern border provinces have been forced to work hard ahead of Tet (Lunar New Year), which falls on February 12 this year.
About 30,000 e-commerce stores were taken down in the first nine months of this year due to trade fraud, counterfeit and contraband goods, and the scale of the problem is looking daunting.
Vietnamese authorities and the Embassy of Vietnam in Russia that is also in charge of Uzbekistan are working closely with host authorities to bring Vietnamese citizens in Uzbekistan home at the earliest possible time.
Crimes relating to smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods were still a big problem due to irresponsibility, loose management and corrupted State employees, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh.
