The fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods have taken place in the context of the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Functional forces in border localities have tightened patrols and inspection to tackle smuggling and illegal transportation of goods through border gates and small trails along border areas.
However, the crimes of smuggling, trade fraud and fake goods on the sea route have seen complicated developments, particularly in the illegal trading and transportation of highly profitable products such as gold, diesel oil, coal, aquatic products, firecrackers, electronics, cosmetics, functional foods, and frozen foods.
Regarding air routes and postal services, smugglers often commit their crimes on trading valuable and easy-to-hide goods, especially drugs, gold, and diamonds.
In the domestic market, the number of violations relating to smuggling and producing fake medical products and equipment serving disease prevention and control, such as face masks, protective clothing, and antiseptic solution, have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To avoid police, smugglers often take advantage of social networks for conducting trade. They also look for construction sites or places in small alleys and use “sophisticated” tricks to disguise, hide and transport the products.
It is forecast that smuggling and transport of illegal commodities will become “hotter” in the last months of 2021.
Therefore, functional forces such as police, border guards, customs, and the market management force must uncover the “tricks” of crimes relating to smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in order to take more drastic measures to crack down on violations.
