Nghe An police have discovered four establishments using growth stimulants to produce bean sprouts.

Previously, through intelligence gathering, the Department of Criminal Investigation of Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling discovered that several bean sprout production facilities in the area showed signs of violating food safety regulations. This network involved several individuals from outside the province colluding with local individuals to produce bean sprouts using chemicals to increase yield and achieve higher profits than normal.

After a period of persistent and coordinated implementation of professional measures, on April 11th, the Department of Criminal Investigation of Corruption, Economic Crimes and Smuggling, in coordination with the police of Trung Do, Vinh Tan, and Nghi Phu wards, the Sub-Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Department of Agriculture and Environment), and Department 3 of the Provincial People's Procuracy, simultaneously inspected four bean sprout production facilities in Vinh City. As a result, they successfully cracked the case, arresting four individuals, the owners of the four bean sprout production facilities, for violating food safety regulations.

The four suspects include: Luu Manh Huong (born in 1993), Luu Van Trung (born in 1997), both residing in Truc Hung commune, Truc Ninh district, Nam Dinh province; Tran Khac Duy (born in 1990) and Nguyen Van Huong (born in 1998), both residing in Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city, Nghe An province.

The seized items included nearly 2,000 containers of various types of bean sprouts, with a total weight of approximately 25 tons; 25 liters of pure "candy water" chemical solution (scientifically known as 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BAP)) and 150 liters of diluted solution used for bean sprout production, along with other related evidence.

According to authorities, the chemical 6-Benzylaminopurine, which the perpetrators used to water the bean sprouts during production, is not on the list of chemicals permitted for use in food production and processing, nor is it on the list of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam.

This is a cell growth stimulant, and if humans come into contact with or ingest it, it can cause many serious harms such as: acute poisoning, digestive disorders (causing damage to the esophagus, gastric mucosa and leading to nausea), respiratory effects (causing shortness of breath, lung damage, pneumonia, worsening lung and bronchial diseases, even pulmonary fibrosis)...

During the expanded investigation of the case, the investigating agency clarified that from 2024 until the time of their arrest, the suspects had produced and sold 3,500 tons of finished bean sprouts using "candy water" to soak and water the sprouts, making them larger, plumper, with shorter roots and a more attractive appearance, thus generating higher profits.