Arrest of 15 subjects involved in impersonating monks to sell homemade medicine

On September 29, Ba Vi District Police (Hanoi) announced that they had just arrested 15 subjects related to the case.impersonationMonks sell traditional medicine, advertising its effects without being verified by authorities.

Confiscated evidence included 42 mobile phones, 15 personal computers, 11 motorbikes, 1 pill making machine, 16 packs of tobacco, and many other documents...

Authorities also seized 41 more boxes of medicine for bone, joint and stomach problems from 15 victims in districts of Hanoi and northern provinces...

According to the suspects' statements, in early 2023, Tran Huy Hoang (born in 2002), permanent resident of Quang Ngoc village, Van Thang commune, Ba Vi, became acquainted with Duong Quoc Lap (born in 1998), residing in Binh Luc district, Ha Nam.

Hoang and Lap realized that people's demand for herbal medicine was increasing, especially products produced by monk TTH. Therefore, Hoang and Lap decided to impersonate the monk to sell homemade products, in order to appropriate people's property.

To carry out the plan, Hoang rented a house in Ba Vi district as an office for the group, including people without stable jobs, who were recruited by Hoang. The subjects used Facebook to advertise, and at the same time, impersonated the voice of monk TTH over the phone to deceive customers.

The drugs sold by this group are made from the leaves and stems of many plants such as water fig, mimosa, piper lolot, etc., imported at low prices but sold for 250,000 - 300,000 VND/box. Initially, the authorities determined that the group had successfully delivered more than 1,400 orders, with a total value of about 2.8 billion VND.

The group has assigned roles for subjects to do advertising, introducing and consulting on the social network Facebook; purchasing raw materials, delivering goods to customers; supporting the division of customer information, directly participating in advertising, selling products; receiving products, printing orders, packing, sending goods through intermediary shipping units...

Through the above incident, the Ba Vi District Police Department recommends that people be more careful when purchasing health-related products through social networks. When in need, people should go directly to licensed medical facilities and pharmacies to avoid becoming victims of scams.

Currently, the Ba Vi District Police Investigation Agency is continuing to expand the case.