Inter-provincial fake cough medicine production line sets up consumption market in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - By creating their own cough medicine formula and labeling it with the label of a reputable company, the three defendants created 9,440 fake Pharcoter medicine bottles to release onto the market.
On September 24, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of defendants Bui Quy Phuc (born in 1986), Vu Tien (born in 1986), both residing in Hai Duong City (Hai Duong) and defendant Nguyen Huu Tien (born in 1983), residing in Quynh Di Ward, Hoang Mai Town) for the crime of Manufacturing,Counterfeit goodsis medicine, preventive medicine.
Due to debt and business stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, around the end of May 2020, Phuc met Nguyen Huu Tien to discuss and agree to produce and sell fake Pharcoter drugs. The two sides agreed that Phuc would be responsible for finding sources of fake Pharcoter drugs, while Tien would be responsible for the consumption stage.
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| 3 defendants at the trial. Photo: Tran Vu |
Phuc then returned to Hai Duong City to hire Vu Tien (pharmacist - Director of a pharmaceutical company) to produce 100 kg of fake Pharcoter medicine. Next, Phuc ordered carton boxes, printed drug labels, and bought plastic bottles to complete a bottle of fake Pharcoter medicine. Phuc packed 264 bottles in each carton.
After having the goods, Phuc transferred a total of 27 boxes of fake medicine to Nghe An twice for Nguyen Huu Tien to sell on the market. Nguyen Huu Tien transferred 180 million VND to Phuc.
With 27 boxes of fake medicine, Nguyen Huu Tien sold them to 7 pharmacies in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Ha Giang provinces and Hanoi for 55,000 VND/bottle.
Some time later, two pharmacies complained that the medicine was missing pills and had no bitter taste and requested that 11 boxes of medicine be returned to Nguyen Huu Tien. When the pharmacy returned the goods, Nguyen Huu Tien called Phuc to request that he receive the goods and return his money. Phuc accepted the request and promised to adjust the bitter taste of the fake medicine.
On August 21, 2020, Phuc transported 15 boxes of fake Pharcoter medicine to Nguyen Huu Tien's house to exchange the returned medicine and was arrested by the police.
During the investigation, the Investigation Police Agency of Hoang Mai Town seized 37 carton boxes containing 9,440 fake Pharcoter bottles. According to the asset appraisal conclusion: 9,440 Pharcoter bottles produced by Phuc and his accomplices had a value at the time of production and consumption of more than 660 million VND.
The investigation agency determined that in this case, the amount of money Bui Quy Phuc illegally benefited was more than 154 million VND, and Nguyen Huu Tien benefited more than 100 million VND.
At the trial, the defendants admitted to the crimes as charged in the indictment. The three defendants stated that because of greed, they recklessly produced and traded counterfeit drugs despite knowing that it was against the law.
Considering the case comprehensively, the People's Court sentenced Bui Quy Phuc to 6 years and 6 months in prison, defendant Nguyen Huu Tien to 5 years and 6 months in prison, and defendant Vu Tien to 6 years in prison.
