Prosecution of large-scale fake functional food production line, arrest of two directors
This line has sold tens of thousands of fake functional food products to the market, illegally earning billions of dong.
On August 2, the Investigation Police Agency (Economic Police Department), Quang Ninh Provincial Police announced that it had issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case, prosecute the accused, and issue an emergency search warrant for the residence and workplace of Dinh Thien Ly (born in 1989, residing in Group 94, Zone 6, Hong Gai Ward, Quang Ninh Province), Director and legal representative of Tacopha Pharmaceutical Company Limited, who also owns Lacosme Pharma Company Limited, and Dang Thu Trang (born in 1992, residing in Duyen Truong Village, Hong Van Commune, Hanoi City), Director and legal representative of Gold Care High-Tech Pharmaceutical Company, for the crime of "Producing and trading in counterfeit goods, food, and food additives" as prescribed in Article 193 of the Penal Code.
The above procedural orders and decisions have been approved by the People's Procuracy of Quang Ninh province.
Previously, through proactively monitoring the situation on cyberspace, the Economic Police Department discovered that subjects in the province regularly posted information selling functional food products called Hebe Luna produced by Tacopha Pharmaceutical Company Limited and announced that the product has the effect of supporting the improvement of female hormones, supporting the reduction of symptoms of hot flashes, insomnia, skin aging, dry skin, wrinkles, and physiological decline due to decreased female hormones on online sales channels developed from the Facebook and TikTok platforms with signs of counterfeiting and incorrect ingredients as announced.
Implementing professional measures, on July 30, the Economic Police Department inspected and arrested Dinh Thien Ly and Dang Thu Trang, seizing a total of 2,260 boxes of Hebe Luna products, 1,840 boxes of Hebe Libifem, 16,608 boxes of Icobe and 20,218 boxes of Lim Lotus Tea.
The results of the forensic examination by the Institute of Criminal Science determined that the above products were all counterfeit, with no ingredients or lower than the declared ones. The Lim Lotus Tea product advertised as a weight loss aid contained Sibutramine - a substance banned from use in health protection foods due to its direct impact on the user's nervous system.
According to the initial investigation, from the end of 2024, Dinh Thien Ly ordered the medicinal formula to produce a functional product called Hebe Luna. According to the registration announcement with the authorities, the Hebe Luna product sold on the market must ensure all declared medicinal ingredients, including 9.5% Cucurmin. After that, Dinh Thien Ly signed a contract with Gold Care Company, directed by Dang Thu Trang, to organize the production of the product.
To increase profits, Dinh Thien Ly did not provide the raw material “Cucurmin 9.5%” - a mandatory ingredient according to the product announcement, but still requested the production of 5,000 boxes of Hebe Luna. Knowing that the raw material did not meet the standards, Dang Thu Trang still agreed to produce according to Ly's request.
After Gold Care High-Tech Pharmaceutical Company finished production, from February until the time of his arrest, Dinh Thien Ly sold the above-mentioned fake functional food products to the market, illegally earning billions of dong.
The successful dismantling of a fake functional food production and trading ring shows the proactiveness and determination of the Economic Police force of Quang Ninh Provincial Police in the fight against counterfeit crimes, especially in the complicated field of health protection foods, contributing to warning and deterring criminals, stabilizing the market situation and ensuring the health safety of consumers.
Thereby, helping to raise people's awareness in choosing and using genuine products; at the same time, it is a warning lesson for businesses and individuals showing signs of violating the law.
Currently, the Investigation Police Agency of Quang Ninh Province is continuing to expand the investigation of the case, strictly and thoroughly handling related subjects according to the provisions of the law.
