Authorities dismantle illicit supplement production network, confiscating more than 100 metric tons of sham products
Let's dive into the darn details of that shady counterfeit operation in Hanoi that Pham Ngoc Tien, a sneaky licensed pharmacist, allegedly led!
Sneaky Scheme: This 37-year-old chap from Ha Dong District, Hanoi, teamed up with his wife, Doan Thi Nguyet, to run a huge counterfeit goods operation. They've been peddling fake dietary supplements and medical devices since 2020, managing to make their way to drugstores and hospitals across the country.
DIP INTO THE DETAILS:
- The Man Behind the Madness: Pham Ngoc Tien is a licensed pharmacist with a knack for sneaky schemes, it seems.
- National Reach: This operation has been active since 2020 and managed to sell their dud products to pharmacies and hospitals all over Vietnam.
- Product Creation: Tien personally concocted these counterfeit supplements, enlisting unqualified workers to help mix and encapsulate them. These products were then packaged and fraudulently labeled as imported goods, hoping to deceive consumers and regulators.
- Business Structure: To keep things hidden, he ordered his accountant Luong Thi Yen to set up 17 companies. Some were registered for import purposes, and others for domestic distribution.
- The Shift: Initially, the group legally imported foreign-made supplements, but as demand increased, Tien started producing imitation goods locally, posing them as imported goods to boost sales.
- Law Enforcement Action: The police swooped down on May 7, carrying out coordinated raids at nearly 20 locations linked to the network. They found tons of counterfeit products in manufacturing sites, warehouses, and distribution points across more than 20 provinces and cities.
WHAT THE HELL GOT THEM CAUGHT:
Phạm Ngọc Tiến being questioned by a police official. - Photo daibieunhandan.vn
- The raid uncovered 30 box embossing moulds, 28,531 boxes and 34,822 bottles of supplements, 38,935 blister packs of pills, 8,535 boxes of packaging, nearly 100 boxes of counterfeit labels, as well as machinery, production equipment, and raw materials.
- Police issued emergency detention orders and arrest warrants for Tien, Yen, and three others: Nguyen Van Duc, Nguyen Thanh Tam, and Nguyen Huu Tuang, as the investigation continues.
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- AI Involvement and Falsified Labeling: In an attempt to deceive consumers and regulators, Tien reportedly used AI technology to create fraudulent labels for his counterfeit supplements, making them appear as imported goods.
- Crime-and-Justice in the Spotlight: The arrest of Pham Ngoc Tien and his accomplices has brought attention to the crime-and-justice sector, raising awareness about the dangers of counterfeit products in the health-and-wellness industry.
- Therapies-and-Treatments Scandal: This incident has sparked concern within the general-news community, particularly regarding the safety and authenticity of supplements and medical devices, including various therapies and treatments.
- Science and Nutrition Concerns: The use of unqualified workers to produce these counterfeit supplements highlights the need for more stringent regulations in the science and nutrition sectors to ensure the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements and medical devices.
