Reporting at a meeting yesterday, he said that with number of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit cases was found double over the same period last year. Still the situation is still very complicated.
The city has assigned the Taxation Department to advise against trade fraud in e-commerce. Authorized agencies will intensify cooperation with 24 districts to propagandize residents against short term hire of warehouses as it might be for keeping illicit goods or drug production, and inform authorized agencies of any case with suspicious signs.
In the first eight months this year, the city handled 36,564 cases relating to smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit, up 104 percent over the same period last year. Authorized agencies launched investigation over 78 cases and prosecuted relevant individuals. Budget revenue topped VND4,361 billion (US$187.83 million).
Mr. Tran Huu Linh, head of the Market Management Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that HCMC is a hot spot of counterfeit consumption and trading with many well known brand names being faked.
At the meeting, representatives of authorized agencies said that handling trade fraud has faced lots of difficulties because of problems in relevant regulations, equipment shortage and easy conditions on business establishment.
Mr. Dam Thanh The, office chief of National Steering Committee 389, said that it is needed to held leaders responsible in localities where smuggling and fake production occurs with large volume.
