Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 23 chaired a nationwide online conference to evaluate the results of fighting smuggling, commercial fraud, counterfeit goods, and violations of intellectual property rights.

The meeting focused on the operations that took place in a month-long nationwide campaign and during the first half of 2025.

The conference was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son, who heads the National Steering Committee 389, along with ministers, heads of government agencies, and leaders of provinces and centrally governed cities.

In Hanoi, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen and members of the city's 389 Steering Committee joined the event.

According to reports from the National Steering Committee 389, nearly 50,000 cases of smuggling, fraud, counterfeiting, and tax violations were detected and handled across the country in the first six months of 2025.

Authorities collected nearly VND6.5 trillion (US$249 million) for the state budget and initiated criminal proceedings in 1,899 cases involving 3,271 defendants.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh praised the efforts of enforcement forces, especially the police, military, coast guard, and market surveillance teams, for their proactive and coordinated crackdown on serious violations.

Many major cases involving fake goods, particularly counterfeit milk, medicine, food, medical supplies, and trademark-infringing products, were investigated and prosecuted during this period.

However, the Prime Minister emphasized that despite the campaign's successes, the overall situation remains complex.

The production and trade of counterfeit and substandard goods, smuggling, and intellectual property violations continue to pose serious risks, undermining public confidence, harming consumer health, and threatening legitimate businesses.

He noted that while both objective and subjective causes contributed to the situation, the primary cause lies in weak governance, loose oversight, and unclear delegation of authority and responsibility.

In addition, coordination among relevant agencies remains inadequate, he said.

Prime Minister Chinh stressed that fake medicine and food are especially dangerous, directly affecting public health and safety.

He called for unity in awareness and action across all levels to eliminate such crimes. In particular, authorities must take decisive steps to stop the sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines and food products.

He urged delegates to offer frank, honest assessments based on real experiences in their jurisdictions. The goal is to draw practical lessons and identify priority tasks and solutions moving forward.

The Prime Minister underlined the need for a determined fight against counterfeit drugs and food, including legal reform and stronger engagement from all sectors, including businesses and the public, to protect consumer rights.

Speaking from Hanoi, Deputy Chairman Nguyen Manh Quyen reported that in the first half of 2025, local authorities inspected and handled 8,542 of 9,582 reported violations, contributing over VND2.1 trillion ($80.5 million) to the state budget.

The city initiated criminal proceedings in 115 cases involving 170 individuals. Violations included smuggling, fraud, counterfeit production, and intellectual property infringement.

During the peak month of enforcement following Directive No.65/CD-TTg from May 15 to June 15, Hanoi handled 814 cases, prosecuted seven criminal cases with 16 suspects, and recovered nearly VND16 billion ($613 million) through fines and back taxes.

Notable cases included the seizure of more than 100 tons of counterfeit supplements, 875 kilograms of fake rice, and over 61,000 counterfeit cosmetic products.

Quyen noted that offenders are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, such as faking product labels and ingredients, abusing self-declaration mechanisms, and operating within closed production loops to evade detection.

According to the deputy chairman, e-commerce violations are particularly difficult to tackle as offenders use advanced technology, shut down websites during inspections, and deny ownership, while enforcement efforts are hampered by cross-border platforms lacking servers in Vietnam.

There are also shortcomings in regulations and post-market inspections as the current self-declaration system, due to its low cost and ease of access, creates heavy pressure on inspection agencies.

Legal provisions related to intellectual property and penalties remain too weak and lack deterrent power.

Additional challenges include high inspection costs, long processing times, limited quick-testing equipment, and insufficient collaboration from rights holders.

The lack of proper storage facilities for confiscated goods also hinders enforcement progress.

Quyen highlighted that during the campaign, many small business owners closed their shops out of fear of being inspected or facing difficulties with electronic invoicing systems.

Based on these challenges, the Hanoi official proposed that the National Assembly and Government direct ministries to revise relevant laws to strengthen penalties for intellectual property violations and online offenses, and to streamline procedures for handling confiscated goods.

He also called on ministries to provide more resources and equipment for quality inspections and to invest in specialized evidence storage facilities with regional coverage and cross-sector integration.

Regarding key solutions, Quyen emphasized the importance of public awareness campaigns and legal education to raise responsibility among citizens and businesses.

He encouraged businesses to build their own brands, register intellectual property, and adhere to product quality regulations.

He urged the continued implementation of central directives, stressing accountability of leaders at all levels.

Authorities should conduct unannounced inspections in high-risk sectors, especially online commerce and goods that directly affect public health, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

He also called for improved coordination and information-sharing among enforcement agencies to proactively detect and respond to emerging tactics used by violators.