Agency cracks down on tobacco smugglers

April 08, 2014 | 08:10

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The Market Management Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade has launched a probe into cigarette producers as part of attempts to curb smuggling.

Photo Nguyen Chung

The spot checks will go from April 1 to June 6 and cover the whole country with emphasis on major cities such as Hanoi, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as border areas.

Nguyen Trong Tin, deputy head of the Market Management Agency said that the agency along with appropriate authorities check tobacco business in trade centres, supermarkets, restaurants, tobacco stores and bars. "The agency will strictly deal with violators. If the units are fined on several occasions, we will withdraw their business certificate for one to two years," added Tin.

Tin shared that the agency was also working with military forces and customs to check potentially smuggled cigarettes in border areas such as the northern border in Quang Ninh, southwest provinces along the Cambodian border and the central provinces bordering Laos that had seen strong smuggling operations.

Mobile checkpoints will patrol routes often used by smugglers. In addition, public awareness will be raised about the issue.

However, according to Tin, the checks still faced obstacles because of the sophisticated nature of smuggling operations and slow issuance of warrants.

According to figures from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, more than 6.8 million packs of smuggled tobacco have been intercepted with the Market Management Agency confiscating 1.5 million packages in 2013 and the first three months of this year.

By By Nguyen Chung

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