Market management officers inspect a tobacco shop in Ha Noi's Hoan Kiem District on April 1. Authorities are intensifying their battle against tobacco smugglers nationwide to protect domestic producers. — VNS Photo Ngoc Duy

HA NOI (Biz Hub) ― The market management authorities will intensify their battle against tobacco smugglers nationwide between April 1 and June 30, the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Market Surveillance Agency announced on Tuesday.

The authorities launched their action plan in Ha Noi and HCM City on Tuesday morning.

The move followed the recent Government directions on fighting cigarette smuggling to protect the domestic producers and the local employees, and to ensure revenue for the State budget and social security.

According to the agency, over 6.8 million packs of illegally imported tobacco were seized during 2013 and in the first quarter of 2014. The situation along the borders with China, Laos and Cambodia is complex.

There is rampant tobacco smuggling taking place in the southern provinces of Tay Ninh, An Giang, Long An, Dong Thap and Kien Giang, while the storage and distribution of the illegal cargo takes place in major cities such as Ha Noi, HCM City and Quang Ninh.

The agency's deputy head Nguyen Trong Tin said that they would coordinate closely with public security, customs and border security forces for effective inspection. Businesses, households and individuals dealing in tobacco, as well as supermarkets, coach stations, bars and dance halls would be checked.

The current laws stipulate that those who repeatedly violate the law would have their business operations suspended for one to two years, and a transaction involving 1,500 or more packs of contraband cigarettes will attract a criminal charge.

However, the lack of close cooperation between the concerned authorities and the increasingly sophisticated tricks adopted by the smugglers are hindering the fight against smuggling, the agency said. ― VNS