Illegal drugs and medical products seized by the Counter-Counterfeit Committee (CCC). CCC
During the first nine months of this year, the Counter-Counterfeit Committee (CCC) confiscated nearly 600 tonnes of illegal drugs, medical products and counterfeit products.
Tan Sokvichea, the head of the CCC Secretariat, said on Tuesday at a meeting on the issue at the Ministry of Interior that from January to September this year, the CCC cracked down on 134 cases. Among them, 19 were drug-related, 12 involved Covid-19 medicines, 35 were concerned with food products, 29 regarded cosmetic products, 20 involved consumer products and 19 were in connection to tobacco products.
Sokvichea said there were 111 cases in Phnom Penh, 11 in Kandal province, two in Kampong Speu, one in Takeo, two in Preah Sihanouk, one in Battambang, one in Kampong Cham, four in Tbong Khmum and one in Svay Rieng.
He said businesses involved in nine cases were found to be following the law.
In 105 of the cases, perpetrators were made to sign letters promising not to repeat their offences. Fines were issued in one case. Thirteen cases were sent to court, with two suspects convicted and sent to jail. The other 11 court cases are proceeding.
CCC chairman Meach Sophanna said the CCC’s primary duty is to ensure and protect the people’s wellbeing by promoting counterfeit prevention and control work, initiating crackdown operations and coordinating with inter-ministerial institutions. Fighting against counterfeit products is not the sole responsibility of one ministry or institution, he said.
“Although counter-counterfeit work is successful, it is spreading day-by-day and is occurring almost everywhere. It’s universally regarded as an organised cross-border crime,” he said.
Sophanna chaired a meeting on Tuesday to collect input from various inter-ministerial institutions and specialists to be included in the implementation mechanisms of a five-year action plan from 2020 to 2025.
Cambodian Investment Federation president Ley Sopheap told The Post on Wednesday that strengthening tactics to ban counterfeit products will deter perpetrators.
“We should all work together to eliminate counterfeit products, and I urge everyone to wake up and love their lives. All parties involved, especially people who are direct users, must join hands,” he said.
