Detecting fake Covid-19 drug production line
Nguyen Duc Thuan, 46 years old, and his accomplices bought many new medicines of unknown origin, processed them, and labeled them as drugs to support the treatment of Covid-19 for sale.
On August 21, Thuan was detained by the Department of Police Investigation of Economic Crimes, Corruption and Smuggling (PC03) of Ho Chi Minh City Police for the act of Production,counterfeit goods tradingis a medicine, a medicine to prevent disease. 8 other people were summoned to clarify their behavior related to this line.
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| Thuan and other fake drugs. Photo: Nhat Vy |
Previously, PC03 discovered that many groups had taken advantage of people's desire to buy and stockpile respiratory medicines to prevent and "treat Covid-19" and advertised them for sale.counterfeit products, unknown origin.
After a period of monitoring, on August 20, detectives followed Thuan while he was carrying a carton and asked him to stop for inspection. In the carton were 150 boxes of TERPINCODEIN brand capsules. Thuan said that these were "medicines that support the treatment of Covid-19" and were selling them to customers. Thuan processed and produced these goods from many floating pharmaceuticals.
During an urgent search of three locations in District 8, Phu Nhuan, and Tan Binh - where he and his associates produced and traded fake pharmaceuticals, the authorities found a large amount of raw materials and various production tools in the warehouse and dirty restrooms.
More than 630,000 fake modern medicine pills in boxes were lying around on the floor, including: more than 3,100 boxes of fake Covid-19 prevention and treatment drugs of the brands Neo-Cordion and Angmentin; 2.5 kg of unlabeled white pills used to produce fake Fugacar; 100 Neo-codien blisters; 100 bottles of Staragan 500, 200 pills/bottle; 50 bottles of Staragan with the label removed...
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| Thuan's goods were confiscated. Photo: Nhat Vy |
Two days ago, PC03 also coordinated with the HCM City Market Management Department to discover a warehouse of drugs and medical equipment of unknown origin at a house on To Hien Thanh Street, District 10. The seized items were 800 Covid-19 rapid test kits; 460 boxes of Salbutant brand new medicine; 700 boxes of Efferalganl and many vitamins, nasal sprays...
"We are increasing coordination with authorities to crack down on counterfeit drug factories, with the hope of contributing to protecting the rights, safety, and health of people, especially victims who are treating Covid-19 at home or at medical facilities," said a PC03 investigator.
