Authorities dismantle numerous networks producing and selling counterfeit medicines and fake dietary supplements during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Counterfeit medicines and fake dietary supplements are openly sold in drug markets.

Counterfeit branded goods are usually sold clandestinely, but what is alarming is that these fake products are being consumed in large quantities at Hanoi's largest pharmaceutical market. The case only came to light, and many consumers realized they had been deceived, when, just before the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, in coordination with the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department, successfully dismantled a ring producing and selling counterfeit branded functional foods of foreign origin. The ring was led by Nguyen Van Xuan (born 1995), residing in Bang Liet Ward, Hanoi, and Nguyen Duc Minh (born 1990), residing at CT1C, Room 1408, Vietnam News Agency Apartment Complex, Dinh Cong Ward, Hanoi.

During the search, investigators seized thousands of boxes of counterfeit medicines and health supplements, including: skin whitening pills, collagen supplements, DHA supplements, calcium supplements for height increase, and bone and joint medications under the names Glucosamine, Collagen Biontin, DHA Plus, GH Creation, Glutathione 600 tablets, etc., with labels and packaging indicating origin from the USA, Australia, and Japan. The police also confiscated tens of tons of raw materials of unknown origin and numerous machines and equipment used in the production of counterfeit medicines and health supplements in many provinces and cities.

Nguyen Van Xuan, a key figure in this large-scale counterfeit food supplement production and trading ring, confessed that after manufacturing the products, they offered and sold them at Hapulico, the largest pharmaceutical market in Hanoi. Selling at Hapulico did not require invoices or documentation; approximately 50% of the counterfeit food supplements produced and sold by Xuan's network were sold at Hapulico. The remaining counterfeit goods were sold on online platforms under the guise of imported goods.

Investigations revealed that, despite extensive advertising on social media and hiring overseas livestreamers to promote the products and build consumer trust by claiming they were genuine products from the US, Japan, Australia, etc., these products were actually manufactured by Xuan and other individuals domestically using unregulated raw materials of unknown origin. Among the counterfeit products, some contained banned substances that could cause strokes and heart failure.

In addition, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police also discovered and dismantled a ring specializing in selling counterfeit traditional Chinese medicine in boxed form. This group of suspects was located in Thanh Hoa and several other provinces including Vinh Long, An Giang, and Ho Chi Minh City. These medicines, under names such as Profeessor's Pill (commonly known as green joint pills), Mujarhabat Kapsul (commonly known as red joint pills), Cuong Luc Toan Thong Linh, Toa Cot Thien Ma, Seng Yong Wan, Toa Cot Than Kinh Cot, Tuyet Lien Phong Thap Linh, Nao Xanh, Nao Do, Thoai Cot Hoan, Tang Phi Hoan, Kien Ty Khai Vi Bo Hoan, Toan Thong Linh, Hoa Da Kim Don… were advertised as treatments for bone and joint diseases, and health supplements for the elderly, women, and children.

All of the above medications are labeled as originating from abroad, lack invoices or documents proving their origin, and are not permitted for circulation in the Vietnamese market. Examination revealed that some products contain corticosteroid painkillers and other substances prohibited for use in medicine.

Also during this peak period of crime prevention and control, right before the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse, the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department, in coordination with the Bac Ninh Provincial Police, dismantled a ring producing and selling counterfeit health supplements called "Fucoidan Nutritional Supplement," manufactured by BMP Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, headquartered in Tan Dinh commune, Bac Ninh province, and with BA Vietnam Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company as the self-declaring and responsible party for the product.

"Fucoidan nutritional supplement" is being heavily advertised as a product that prevents the growth of cancer cells and is specifically for people with conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and cancer. However, expert analysis has determined that this product is counterfeit and does not guarantee the advertised content, ingredients, or origin.

The ingredients in "Fucoidan Nutritional Supplement" were advertised as imported from Japan, but in reality, the cheaper ingredients, costing only 1/10 of the price, originated from China, and some components were present in very low concentrations, only 10% of what was advertised. This network deceived consumers for a long time, selling approximately over 200,000 counterfeit products from 2023 to the present.

Intensive implementation of the campaign.

Major General Than Van Hai, Director of the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department, stated that the achievements of the Environmental Police and the Public Security forces of Thanh Hoa and Bac Ninh provinces during the peak period of crime suppression and security protection for the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse, especially the exemplary cases in combating environmental and food safety crimes, specifically in the fight against counterfeit goods in the medical field, including medicines and functional foods, demonstrated sharp professional skills and decisive action in implementing the peak period of crime suppression and security protection for the 14th National Congress of the Party and major national events such as the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly, People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse 2026, and spring festivals as directed by the Ministry of Public Security.

The success of these cases is of great significance, generating considerable public attention, because the consequences of using counterfeit medicines and fake dietary supplements pose a very high risk to the health and lives of consumers, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.