Nghe An police cut off a ring selling fake toothpaste, shampoo, and fabric softener branded under the guise of major brands.

The four suspects include: Pham Thi Sang (born in 1962), residing in Gia Lam district, Hanoi; Nguyen Thi Dung (born in 1977), Pham Thi Phuong (born in 1975), Hoang Van Thai (born in 1991), all residing in Dien Kim commune, Dien Chau district, Nghe An province.

Previously, the Police Department investigating crimes of corruption, economics and smuggling in coordination with Market Management Team No. 1, Nghe An Market Management Department, cut off a cross-provincial ring specializing in trading in counterfeit goods.

Specifically, through inspection of the truck with license plate number 37C.441.xx driven by Nhu Van H. (born in 1994), residing in Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province, it was discovered that the vehicle contained nearly 480,000 products of various types without documents proving their origin, including more than 400,000 shampoo packages of the brands Clear, Xmen, Dove, Sunsilk, Romano, Pamolive, Rejoice, Head & Shoulders; 6,000 fabric softener packages of the brand Comfort; nearly 1,300 tubes of toothpaste of the brands Sensodyne, Close up and 63,520 pens of various types with a total value of more than 523 million VND (compared to equivalent items).

During the investigation, H. confessed that all of the above goods were hired by the subjects (Dung, Phuong, Thai) to be transported from Gia Lam district, Hanoi to Dien Kim commune, Dien Chau district for consumption. During the transportation process, there were no procedures and documents proving the origin, and no invoices as prescribed. Searching Nguyen Thi Dung's residence, the authorities also seized 3,356 packages of counterfeit shampoos bearing brands such as Sunsilk, Romano, Clear, Head & Shouders, Dove; searching Pham Thi Phuong's house, they seized 300 packages of counterfeit fabric softener bearing the Comfor brand.

During the investigation, the Investigation Agency identified Pham Thi Sang as the mastermind and leader of this ring. The counterfeit goods were purchased by Pham Thi Sang from ringleaders in the northern provinces to resell for profit. Through relationships, Sang, Dung, Phuong, and Thai knew each other. Dung, Phuong, and Thai regularly ordered counterfeit goods such as shampoo, toothpaste, and fabric softener from Sang to sell.

During the buying and selling process, the subjects knew that these goods were of poor quality but still bought them for consumption. The subjects traded counterfeit goods many times, mainly in remote mountainous districts; the counterfeit goods were mainly shampoo, toothpaste, and fabric softener of all kinds.

Currently, the Investigation Police Agency is continuing to investigate and expand the case to handle it in accordance with legal regulations.

Pham Thuy - Van Hau