Chilling Confessions from the 130-Ton Tainted Pork Syndicate: Diseased Pigs with Red, Blistered Skin Still Ended Up in Canned Goods

The Investigative Police Agency of Hai Phong City Police has initiated legal proceedings and prosecuted nine individuals involved in a network that collected, transported, and distributed over 130 tons of pork contaminated with African swine fever for processing into canned food.

Among them, Bui Duc Trong (47 years old, residing on Da Nang Street, Ngo Quyen District) and eight others have been prosecuted and temporarily detained for violating food safety regulations, according to the Hai Phong City Police.

Authorities revealed that Trong and his accomplices had been purchasing infected pork for approximately six months and selling it to a company.

This contaminated meat was declared for intra-provincial consumption to bypass health certificates and legitimize its origin using documents from registered slaughterhouses when purchasing other goods.

In a report aired on VTV1, Nguyen Thi Lan (from Dong Hung Commune, Hung Yen Province) stated that she previously worked as a pig slaughterer selling at the market. However, for the past six months, she shifted her business after finding a buyer specializing in purchasing sick and diseased pigs.

During the investigation, Lan confessed, “Some pigs had red rashes, others had pale skin… But Mr. Doanh needed this kind of meat, so I bought and sold it to him. As for who Mr. Doanh sold it to or how it was processed, I have no idea.”

Through two collection points, the diseased and infected pork reached its final destination: a renowned food processing facility. Authorities confirmed that over 130 tons of contaminated meat were found at this facility, including meat in storage, meat processed into cans, and freshly slaughtered meat recently delivered.

Nearly 2 tons had been processed into canned meat. Initial investigations revealed that the individuals specializing in purchasing sick pigs sold exclusively to this company.

In the VTV1 report, defendant Bui Duc Trong admitted, “In addition to these sources, I also purchased pigskin from markets. When I buy from people, they provide me with purchase certificates for the products.” Trong explained that he would use these invoices to compensate and legitimize the previously purchased meat of unknown origin.

The contaminated pork was transformed into legitimate goods using seemingly proper documentation. By declaring intra-provincial consumption to bypass health certificates and easily legitimizing the origin, the perpetrators exploited loopholes in the system, allowing tainted meat to circulate openly in the market.