Mechanisms should be rolled out promptly in order to prevent corrupt acts, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh at a conference in Hanoi on January 29. 

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh ​speaks at the conference.

A working group will be established to supervise the performance of agencies in the combat, both publicly and secretly, regularly and unexpectedly, according to the official. 

The inspection work of competent agencies must be stepped up in order to prevent the abuse of power, activities hindering operation of businesses as well as group interests, the Deputy PM said. 

“The Government must intensify the inspection capacity of ministries and agencies, and their responsibility for reviewing their own performance in this battlefield,” Binh noted. 

He emphasised the determination to leave no “prohibited zones” in the fight against crimes, smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit products. 

The Deputy PM urged ministries and agencies to complete legal documents to deal with shortcomings in State management, and protect the safety of key projects and major national political, social and cultural events, especially the upcoming Lunar New Year. 

He underlined the need to improve the efficiency of the fight against organised, economic and high-tech crimes, dangerous gangs, terrorism, human trafficking, money laundering, smuggling, counterfeit products, child abuse and corruption, asking ministries and agencies to deploy measures to deal with criminals who flee abroad. 

Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Le Quy Vuong reported that the number of criminal cases dropped by 3.02 percent in 2017, with many serious corruption and economic cases brought to trial. 

Competent agencies detected 42,577 criminal cases, 17,159 economic cases, 944 cases of high-tech crimes, 19,400 cases of environmental violations, 21,471 drug cases and 324 cases of human trafficking. 

Of note, smuggling and trade fraud in the border areas of the northern provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh and Lao Cai have shown signs of decrease.

However, Vuong said, tobacco smuggling at the southwestern border has still remained complex, with increasing number of cases in various forms. 

According to Major General Bui Duc Hanh, Deputy Commander of the Borer Guard, the common borders between Vietnam and China, Laos and Cambodia are the key areas of drug trafficking and smuggling.-VNA