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Firm Action Needed: Prosecute Those Who Aid Smuggling and Counterfeiting
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It is heartbreaking that elderly people, children, and patients are deceived daily into consuming counterfeit milk, medicine, and low-quality drugs that are advertised as cure-alls.
In response, the Prime Minister has issued a decisive order: establish a special task force and launch a nationwide crackdown on smuggling and counterfeiting. This is not merely an inspection campaign but a strong statement of action from a government that refuses to compromise with dishonesty and lawlessness.
Now is the time for society to rally behind this cause. We cannot build a strong economy if the foundation of our market is eroded by deceit. Nor can we achieve national prosperity if honest people are constantly disadvantaged in their own playground.
The Damage Goes Beyond Material Loss
Smuggling and the production of counterfeit and substandard goods result in significant revenue losses, stifle domestic production, and erode investor confidence. More critically, they directly endanger community health with the proliferation of fake medicine, contaminated food, and inferior products.
The persistent presence of counterfeiting and smuggling also indicates a challenge to the rule of law, lax management, and eroded business ethics. If consumers cannot trust the market, and if honest businesses are overshadowed by unscrupulous operators, what can we say about the health of our economy?
Decisive Action from the Top
The Prime Minister has not only demanded harsh punishment but has also personally launched a nationwide campaign, assigning specific tasks to each locality and ministry. A special task force has been established, and inter-sectoral inspection teams will be dispatched to supervise and hold accountable any locality that fails to take action.
This high-point campaign is not about “making a few arrests for show.” Instead, it aims to change the approach: from passive reaction to proactive crackdown, from isolated handling to systemic collaboration, and from case-by-case fighting to institutional, technological, and cultural countermeasures.
Combating Smuggling and Counterfeiting Goes Beyond Coercion
Indeed, we must prosecute severely and even criminally charge those who aid smuggling and counterfeiting. However, if we rely solely on coercive measures, we are only addressing the symptoms. To eradicate the root cause, we must fight with culture, integrity, education, and communication.
Starting in schools, students should learn about consumer culture, the value of genuine products, and ethics in production and business. In communities, let’s honor honest producers and encourage responsible consumption. In every family, parents should teach their children to distinguish right from wrong, even from a product’s packaging.
A nation is truly strong when acts of integrity become the norm and dishonesty finds no foothold.
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Consumers: The First Line of Defense
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The Critical Role of Consumers
No one can profit from counterfeiting if consumers refuse to buy fake goods. Thus, consumers play a pivotal role. A community of smart and informed consumers who resolutely say no to counterfeits, imitations, and inferior products will render all fraudulent activities unprofitable.
Consumers need access to transparent information, tools for traceability, and means to compare prices and quality. Above all, they need self-respect and a sense of civic duty because buying counterfeits harms not only themselves but also fuels criminal activities.
It’s Not Just the Government’s Responsibility
As strong as it may be, the government needs the collaboration of ministries, localities, organizations, and citizens in this fight. Social organizations, especially consumer protection associations, industry associations, the press, and the media network, should take a more proactive role.
We need large-scale communication campaigns promoting honest consumption. Community supervision of smuggling networks is essential, along with mechanisms for social organizations to propose policies, critique loopholes, and support consumers whose rights have been violated.
Towards an Environment of Ethical Business and Sustainable Development
This crackdown on smuggling and counterfeiting, if conducted rigorously and synchronously, will not only dismantle illegal networks but, more importantly, restore trust in the market and the legal system.
The government has sent a clear signal. Now, the entire political system must act. More importantly, every citizen, business, and social organization must take action toward a common goal: establishing an environment of ethical business, a transparent market, and a nation that sustainably develops from its cultural roots to its institutional superstructure.
This is not just a crackdown; it is a market ethics revolution, and it is what our country needs to enter a new era.
Dr. Nguyen Si Dung
– 06:00 16/05/2025
Special Task Force Established: Prime Minister Orders Crackdown on Illicit Trade and Counterfeiting
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“In a decisive move, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the formation of a special task force to launch a crackdown on illicit activities, including smuggling, trade fraud, and the production and distribution of counterfeit and illicit goods, unknown origin, intellectual property violations, and intellectual property rights infringements. This intensive campaign, lasting from May 15 to June 15, aims to firmly tackle and deter such illegal practices, demonstrating the government’s strong stance against these issues.”
“Prime Minister Orders Special Task Force to Combat Counterfeit Goods in an Intensive Crackdown”
“The Prime Minister has called for stricter penalties to be imposed on individuals who misuse their influence to disseminate false advertising, particularly online. This move underscores the government’s commitment to curbing the spread of misleading information and ensuring that those who exploit their reputation to propagate untruths are held accountable for their actions.”
“Cracking Down on Counterfeits: A National Priority to Stamp Out Illicit Trade and Protect Consumers.”
On the morning of May 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting with ministries, departments, and central agencies to evaluate the efforts in combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the first months of 2025 and to discuss the direction and tasks for the coming period.
Selling Rare Earth Without an Invoice, Company Chairman Cites ‘National-Level Research Project’ Reason
For the uninvoiced rare earth volume, defendant Luu Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Rare Earth Company, argued that he did not need to legalize the input because he was working on a state-level rare earth production research project.
The Rare Earth Company Chairman Blames the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Circular
The defendant, Luu Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Rare Earth Company, stood firm in his belief that he had not erred in his export customs declaration of rare earth elements. He attributed any misunderstanding to vague regulatory guidelines. Tuan acknowledged the dilemma of pleading not guilty, which could result in a loss of mitigating factors for a sincere confession. However, he resolutely maintained his innocence, stating, “If I don’t plead guilty, I may lose the mitigating factor of a sincere confession, but I stand by the truth and my actions.”
