• Long An struggles to cope with sm

• Long An struggles to cope with smuggling
• Update: August, 31/2016 - 19:00
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Tobacco and sugar were the most commonly smuggled items, said Long An Province authorities. — VNA/VNS Photo thongcaobaochi.com.vn
• Viet Nam News
• LONG AN — Long An Province has busted 1,250 cases of smuggling and over 1,000 cases of commercial fraud so far this year, and collected fines of VNĐ57 billion (US$2.55 million).
• Tobacco and sugar were the most commonly smuggled items, provincial authorities told a conference on combating smuggling, trade fraud and fake goods last week.
• Anti-smuggling authorities have confiscated over 1.6 million cigarette packs and 600 tonnes of sugar that were illegally transported over the Cambodian border.
• According to Colonel Phạm Hữu Châu, deputy chief of the province police, the smuggling situation is “complicated” and worsening.
• The fight against smuggling and fraud faces many difficulties since smugglers are “smart,” he said.
• Besides, since smugglers pay people well to transport contraband, many poor people are lured into it, making the situation harder to deal with, he said.
• Thus, in most cases, authorities are only able to catch henchmen and not the smuggling kingpins, he said.
• The smuggling tends to peak before Tết (lunar New Year), when demand for certain items skyrockets.
• Nguyễn Văn Được, vice chairman of the Long An People’s Committee, has urged various authorities to improve co-ordination, step up inspections and come up with measures to prevent cross-border smuggling and reduce counterfeit goods.
• He called for more programmes to generate jobs in border areas and raise public awareness of smuggling.
• District people’s committees are responsible for implementing the measures and reporting to the province People’s Committee, he added. — VNS
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