Greater efforts needed to prevent and combat crimes and trade fraud
The Government’s Steering Committee on Crime Prevention and Control (Steering Committee 138) and the National Steering Committee for Prevention and Fight against Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (Steering Committee 389) held a conference on July 23 to review their performances of tasks in the first half of 2020 and roll out new plans for the remaining months.
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| Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh speaks at the event. |
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Politburo Member and Head of the two committees, chaired the event. General To Lam, Politburo Member, Minister of Public Security and Vice Head of the Steering Committee 138 presided over the discussion session.
According to the report delivered by Senior Lieutenant General, Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong, in the first half of 2020, police forces nationwide in coordination with the relevant forces have launched various intensive campaigns against crime, coordinating to effectively prevent and fight crimes related to counterfeit goods and smuggling, successfully investigating major cases and arresting heads of smuggling rings.
Criminal investigations and legal proceedings were launched in 1,128 cases involving 1,346 suspects. The numbers of cases and suspects reduced 14 per cent and 13 per cent respectively compared with the same period last year.
As many as 23,465 crimes were reported in the last six months, a year-on-year reduction of 8.4 per cent, said Deputy Minister Vuong, adding that cybercrimes were more and more complicated and hidden.
He said the public was very concerned over violations relating to speculation, smuggling and producing fake medical products during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly bidding and purchasing of medical equipment serving disease prevention and control.
Applauding improvements in crime prevention and control, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Binh acknowledged the efforts of functional forces from central to local levels in the fight against crime, contributing to stabilising the national socio-economic situation and strengthening confidence amongst the people.
He also asked the relevant ministries, branches and localities to grasp the situation, overcome their shortcomings and promote State management in ensuring security and order, as well as preventing and combating smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.
More attention should be paid to investigating and handling organised crime, human trafficking, drug-related crimes, “loan sharking”, illegal exploitation of mineral resources, smuggling of petroleum and mineral products and counterfeit goods, he noted.
However, there remained a group of corrupt State employees who abetted and covered up crimes, he said, adding that they would be strictly punished.
