Gov’t cracks down on illicit tobacco trade

Illustration photo

The illegal trading, transportation and storage of imported tobacco have occurred seriously across the country especially in provinces and cities like Quang Tri, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, HCMC, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

The problem has seriously damaged the domestic production and affected people’s health.

The Government chief tasked the Ministry of National Defence to instruct border guards to strengthen patrols on land and at sea and promptly punish smugglers.

The Ministry of Finance was asked to direct customs forces to tighten control at border gates and provide financial support to encourage organizations and individuals to support competent agencies to expose, prevent, and capture smugglers.

The Ministry of Public Security was assigned to instruct economic police forces and investigators to raze tobacco smuggling gangs and put them on trial. The Ministry is also in charge of working with the traffic police forces to patrol and deal with smugglers on road, railway and waterway.  

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for steering market management forces to tighten control over the domestic markets to tackle illegally imported hotspots.  

The People’s Committees bear responsibility for illicit tobacco trade case once it is detected in their localities./.

By Kim Loan