Hanoi will apply technological solutions to monitor smuggling in the e-commerce environment in the coming period, according to Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Market Surveillance Tran Viet Hung.

Hung said the move aims to improve the efficiency of controlling and handling commercial fraud and counterfeit goods in cyberspace.

"In recent years, e-commerce has rapidly grown to become a modern distribution channel and one of the pioneering fields of the digital economy. However, this strong development also leaves loopholes for the trade of counterfeit goods or those of unknown origin," he added.

Online shopping is encouraged in Hanoi. Photo: phapluatxahoi.tinhtedothi.vn

In 2021 and 2022, Hanoi's functional forces detected and dealt with more than 4,500 violations in e-commerce activities and fined 20 perpetrators over VND530 billion (US$22.5 million).

Hung stressed that the Vietnamese Government had made many policy changes in recent years to supervise e-commerce activities. In particular, there have been stricter regulations on how e-commerce and social networking sites introduce goods and services.

"Organizations and individuals can easily set up and use multiple accounts to conduct goods business on social networking platforms such as Zalo, Facebook, TikTok, which has made managing difficult," said the deputy director.

It is difficult to find locations and warehouses of online businesses, especially those who rent apartments, often equipped with high security, for the transshipment of goods, he added.

According to Hung, e-commerce criminals can quickly hide and delete evidence in cyberspace.

In addition, social networking transactions are complicated. Buyers and sellers communicate through private messages, then goods are shipped through logistics services or mail, and payments are made online through private accounts.

Hung emphasized that Hanoi's market surveillance department will fundamentally change the method of inspection and control activities, including establishing a centralized management database of the geographic region, applying technological solutions for monitoring and prevention, and training market managers in electronic commerce.

Besides, the Hanoi Department of Market Surveillance annually develops periodic and thematic inspection plans to strengthen the control and handling of e-commerce violations.

Furthermore, market surveillance teams in the field have been actively coordinating with other agencies in charge of e-commerce to disseminate legal regulations and strictly deal with businesses and individuals who sell counterfeit and prohibited goods online.