Vietnam Fake Perfume Ring Exposed in Major Police Operation

Picture courtesy of VN Express

Authorities have dismantled a sophisticated counterfeit goods operation in Vietnam, arresting Lu Hung Phat, 30, and Tran Thi Bich Lien, 29. The couple is suspected of trading in fake perfumes, smuggling, and tax evasion.

In a decisive raid last Saturday, police uncovered over 10,000 counterfeit perfume bottles stored across a business address, packaging facility, and warehouse linked to Phat and Lien. The fake goods, if authentic, would hold an estimated value of VND10 billion (approximately US$382,000).

Phat and Lien, currently under police interrogation, have admitted to sourcing the counterfeit perfumes from smuggling rings transporting them from China into Vietnam. By renting various sites to discreetly store their illicit inventory, they managed to avoid immediate detection.

The couple's operation employed five individuals tasked with sorting and packaging the goods. Their distribution strategy was notably modern, utilising communications applications and online groups to reach a vast network of customers across various provinces and cities.

This crackdown marks a significant win for local authorities striving to combat counterfeit trade, which continues to pose economic and safety risks in the region. The investigation remains underway, with police scrutinising digital communications to unravel the full extent of the operation's reach.

Officials urge consumers to remain vigilant against counterfeit products, highlighting the potential dangers and economic consequences of supporting such illicit activities.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-06-24