On May 27, 2025, the Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes of Nghe An Provincial Police said that it had just initiated a prosecution and charged four subjects related to trading counterfeit goods.
Recently, the unit has strengthened its forces and deployed multiple operational measures to combat and prevent violations in the business of smuggled, counterfeit, and banned goods in the area. Through intelligence work, the authorities detected several establishments showing signs of trading counterfeit goods, organized by subjects from other provinces in collusion with local people.
The Nghe An Provincial Police directed the Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes to coordinate with Team No. 1 of the Market Management, under the Provincial Market Management, to investigate and break up this ring.
As a result, the authorities arrested four subjects, namely Pham Thi Sang (born in 1962, Gia Lam district, Hanoi), Nguyen Thi Dung (born in 1977), Pham Thi Phuong (born in 1975), and Hoang Van Thai (born in 1991), all residing in Dien Kim commune, Dien Chau district, Nghe An province, for trading counterfeit goods.
Previously, upon inspecting a truck with license plate number 37C.441.xx driven by driver Nhu Van H. (born in 1994, Quynh Luu district), the authorities discovered nearly 480,000 products without documents proving their origin, including more than 400,000 counterfeit shampoo packets of brands such as Clear, Xmen, Dove, Sunsilk, Romano, Palmolive, Rejoice, and Head & Shoulders; 6,000 counterfeit Comfort fabric softener packets; nearly 1,300 counterfeit Sensodyne and Close Up toothpaste tubes; and 63,520 pens of various types, with a total estimated value of over VND 523 million.
The inspection of Nguyen Thi Dung and Pham Thi Phuong’s residences resulted in the additional seizure of thousands of packets of counterfeit shampoo and fabric softener of the aforementioned brands.
At the Investigation Agency, Nhu Van H. confessed that all the goods were hired by Dung, Phuong, and Thai to be transported from Gia Lam district, Hanoi, to Dien Kim commune, Dien Chau district, for consumption, but without legal invoices and documents.
According to the investigation results, Pham Thi Sang was identified as the mastermind behind this ring. Sang purchased counterfeit goods from wholesalers in the northern provinces and transported them to Nghe An for sale at a profit. Sang, Dung, Phuong, and Thai were acquainted and regularly transacted, knowing full well that the goods were counterfeit but still organized the sale.
The subjects had committed these acts multiple times, focusing on consumption in mountainous and highland districts, with the main counterfeit items being shampoo, toothpaste, and fabric softener.
The Investigation Agency of Nghe An Provincial Police is expanding the investigation to handle the case in accordance with the law.
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The investigation and verification process, along with a thorough examination of sales records and multiple data sources, led the authorities to conclude that the two establishments had released into the market over 300 tons of bean sprouts treated with toxic substances.
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“Speaking to Tien Phong, a renowned expert in commerce and market management conceded that there is often a game of passing the buck between various units and ministries when issues pertaining to their domains surface. In light of the recent exposés of numerous incidents involving tainted food, counterfeit medicines, and fake milk, it is indisputable that the Ministry of Health bears the primary responsibility.”
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“The Prime Minister demands stern action against officials, civil servants, and officers who exhibit moral degradation, corruption, negativity, and collusion with smuggling and counterfeit goods syndicates. “
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A female online business owner in Vung Tau City has been charged with two offenses for evading taxes on her earnings of over VND 27 billion.
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“Ms. L.T.A.T, a resident of Vung Tau city in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, has been importing goods from Thailand to Vietnam and selling them on e-commerce platforms and social media sites such as Facebook and TikTok. From the beginning of 2023 to May 2025, Ms. T. has amassed a revenue of over 27 billion VND, but has failed to comply with any tax declaration and payment obligations to the state.”
