Major Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Ring Uncovered in Thanh Hóa

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Photo: Vietnam News

 

Police in the central province of Thanh Hóa have dismantled a significant counterfeit pharmaceutical operation, targeting vulnerable elderly consumers with low-cost musculoskeletal medicines. The ring, which spanned multiple provinces including Hà Nội, HCM City, Vĩnh Phúc, Hưng Yên, An Giang, and Đồng Tháp, was responsible for producing and distributing fake pharmaceuticals intended for treating musculoskeletal diseases.

 

Law enforcement conducted urgent searches across six locations used for the manufacturing and storage of these counterfeit medicines. In their operation, authorities seized a staggering 21 types of counterfeit products, over 18,000 empty packaging boxes, 142kg of various pills and powders, and nearly ten tonnes of counterfeit medicines and raw materials. They also confiscated machinery and equipment used in the illicit production process.

 

Fourteen individuals, including the ringleaders, have been arrested. Nguyễn Tiến Đạt, aged 32, from Hà Nội and Trịnh Doãn Giáo, aged 38, from HCM City, orchestrated the scheme. They invested in production lines and researched pharmaceutical compositions, sourcing raw materials of dubious origin and hiring workers to produce counterfeit drugs by grinding and mixing these materials into powders.

 

 

 

These fake drugs, presented as capsules and blister-packs, were distributed through various channels. Authorities estimate that between 2021 and the time of arrest, the operation profited nearly VNĐ200 billion (about US$8 million) from selling these counterfeit medicines.

 

Initial investigations reveal the ring exploited a common issue in Vietnam where many self-medicate without official prescriptions, and a general lack of consumer knowledge about verifying medicine origins. By targeting elderly consumers seeking affordable treatment options for conditions like joint pain and degenerative ailments, the ring was able to perpetuate the sale of fake medications. Rather than replicate existing well-known pharmaceutical brands, they fabricated product names and companies, often fictitiously claiming overseas origins to lend a false sense of legitimacy.

 

The investigation continues as authorities work to unravel the full extent of the operation and ensure those affected receive justice. This case highlights the pervasive issue of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, emphasizing the need for increased consumer awareness and tightened regulatory oversight, reported Vietnam News.

 

-- 2025-04-17