The Ho Chi Minh City Police Department’s Investigation Agency (Economic Police Division) recently issued a decision to initiate criminal proceedings, prosecute the defendant, and issue an arrest warrant for Vo Thi Ngoc Ngan (alias “Ngan 98”). Ngan is the director of ZuBu Trading and Service Co., Ltd. and ZuBu Shop, charged with “Producing and trading counterfeit food products” under Article 193 of the Penal Code.
What did Ngan 98 confess?
During her statement to the police, Ngan 98 (real name Vo Thi Ngoc Ngan, born in 1998) initially evaded responsibility, denying involvement in selling dietary supplements of unclear origin. The female DJ claimed all products were supplied by a “manufacturing facility” with legal product declarations.
“The documents were sent directly to my mother by the factory. I then asked her to sign and return them,” Ngan 98 stated, as reported by Dan Tri newspaper.
According to her confession, Ngan 98 directly sold weight loss and collagen products through her store, TikTok, and a hotline. Her advertisements claimed: “Take 2 capsules daily, no exercise or dieting needed to lose weight. Collagen helps detoxify the body.”
Ngan 98 at the police station. Photo: Ministry of Public Security
When asked if the products were approved for circulation, Ngan 98 claimed “ignorance,” stating all documentation and testing were handled by her partner. She admitted, “I only paid them to handle the procedures.”
Notably, the company’s legal representative is Tran Thi Thanh, Ngan 98’s mother. The DJ explained her frequent performances led her to “ask her mother to act as the representative and sign documents.”
“The factory sent the declaration directly to my mother. I asked her to sign and return it,” VnExpress quoted Ngan as saying.
Initially, Ngan 98 claimed she was only a brand ambassador, uninvolved in business operations. However, investigators dismissed this, asserting her direct role in advertising and sales increased consumer trust.
What did the police investigation reveal?
Investigations showed Vo Thi Ngoc Ngan established and managed ZuBu Company (with her mother, T.T.T., as director) and ZuBu Shop (with M.T.V. as owner). In reality, Ngan controlled all operations, finances, and business activities, reaping the profits.
Since 2021, Ngan partnered with factories in Hanoi to produce “weight loss health supplements” like Super Detox X3, X7, and X1000. While these products were legally registered, Ngan exploited “free gifts” to sell an unregistered product called “Vegetable Collagen Pills.”
Evidence from the case. Photo: Ministry of Public Security
Investigations revealed the “Vegetable Collagen Pills” lacked registration and product declarations. Ngan packaged them with X3, X7, and X1000 branding, claiming they enhanced weight loss when used together. Labelled as “free gifts, not for sale,” they were sold as part of a complete regimen, encouraging simultaneous use for “faster weight loss.”
Products were shipped from Hanoi factories to ZuBu Shop’s warehouse in Ho Chi Minh City, then distributed via Facebook, TikTok, and ZuBu’s hotline. Customers were offered “weight loss programs” ranging from 4 to 15 kg, with each package including one box of X3/X7/X1000 and a corresponding Collagen pack, priced between 870,000 and 1,100,000 VND.
All sales revenue was transferred through multiple bank accounts of relatives and employees to conceal transactions, eventually consolidating into Ngan’s personal account. Data from delivery services showed revenues exceeding hundreds of billions of VND from 2023 to 2024.
The Investigation Agency is expanding its probe to identify all involved parties for legal action.
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