“Requesting Hanoi to Step Up Inspections at Hapulico Medicine Market and Ninh Hiep Market to Curb Counterfeit Goods”

On May 30, the Government’s Task Force on the peak of the fight against smuggling, counterfeiting, and trade fraud held a working session with the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Reporting to the task force, Ms. Nguyen Kieu Oanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, said that in the first five months of 2025, Hanoi inspected 9,587 cases and handled 8,770 cases of smuggling, commercial fraud, and counterfeiting (including initiating legal proceedings in 107 cases with 163 defendants), collecting over VND 2,000 billion for the state budget.

According to Ms. Oanh, to evade law enforcement, smugglers and counterfeiters have employed sophisticated methods and tricks. The primary approach involves either mimicking the appearance or falsifying the quality of the products.

Regarding food, dietary supplements, and counterfeit drugs, the deputy director of the Department of Industry and Trade stated that the perpetrators often establish shell companies or front businesses with import and distribution functions to legalize counterfeit goods and create a legitimate business facade.

Additionally, counterfeit production facilities are typically located in remote areas, renting unregistered and unlicensed premises to mix low-quality raw materials, package, and label counterfeit products.

Ms. Oanh also mentioned that to deceive law enforcement and consumers, counterfeiters and producers of substandard goods often purchase genuine drugs and then replace some of the pills or packages with inferior counterfeits, making it challenging to distinguish between real and fake products through conventional inspections.

Furthermore, the production of counterfeit goods involves sophisticated replication of genuine packaging, labels, and anti-counterfeiting measures, including replicating aluminum foil and packaging boxes.

Mr. Vo Nguyen Phong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, stated that the city’s philosophy is “prevention is fundamental, and handling is decisive.” Following this principle, the authorities focus on raising public awareness, encouraging people not to engage in or facilitate illegal activities, and actively reporting any violations.

Additionally, they intensify law enforcement measures to detect and strictly handle violations. “Hanoi is committed to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of functional forces and strengthening the role and responsibility of leaders in combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeiting,” emphasized Mr. Phong.

At the working session, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade and Deputy Head of the Task Force, Mr. Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, appreciated Hanoi’s proactive and swift response to the Prime Minister’s Official Dispatch No. 65/CD-TTg.

He acknowledged the crucial role played by the public security force in combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeiting, with significant discoveries of fake milk, drugs, and cosmetics. These cases are considered extremely serious as they directly affect people’s lives.

Moving forward, in addition to closely following the Central Government’s directives, Hanoi’s authorities will enhance inspections with the spirit of being “strong, fast, accurate, and strict.” Particular attention will be paid to areas with potential risks, such as Quang Minh Industrial Park, Hapulico Medicine Market, Ninh Hiep Market, and craft villages.