Defendants Ho Sy Y (left), Dang Trung Kien and evidence of fake milk powder seized by police - Photo: VTV
Regarding the case of producing and trading fake milk powder that occurred at Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, up to now, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency has prosecuted and temporarily detained eight people for the crime of producing and trading fake food products and the crime of violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.
Producing nearly 600 types of fake milk powder, earning nearly 500 billion VND
The investigation agency identified Hoang Manh Ha (46 years old) and Vu Manh Cuong (46 years old, both residing in Hanoi ) as the masterminds in managing activities from production, business to distribution and consumption of fake milk powder products.
According to the investigation agency, since August 2021, Hoang Manh Ha and Vu Manh Cuong realized that people increasingly needed to use domestic powdered milk, so they contributed capital to establish Rance Pharma Company and Hacofood Company, then managed all activities from production, business to consumption of fake powdered milk.
They opened a factory in Phu Nghia Industrial Park (Phu Nghia Commune, Chuong My District, Hanoi) to produce fake milk powder. In order to facilitate consumption, from the two main enterprises, Rance Pharma and Hacofood Group, Ha and Cuong contributed capital with many people to establish nine more companies to produce and distribute fake milk powder.
The nine companies in this "ecosystem" include: Group International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Big Four Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Long Khang Group International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, BFF Medical Nutrition Joint Stock Company, Safaco Group International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Darifa Group International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Win CT International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Phuc An Khang Nutrition Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, and Asia Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company.
These enterprises will be the ones to register the product lines (product brand labels), directly trade, distribute and consume products manufactured at the factories of Hacofood Group and Rance Pharma.
All production management activities at the factory are assigned to Ho Sy Y (shareholder of Rance Pharma Company and Hacofood Company). One of Y's tasks is to take full responsibility for the quality of products produced at the two factories.
By the time of their arrest on April 11, the ring had produced 573 types of fake milk powder for people with diabetes, kidney failure, premature babies, and pregnant women. In the four years from 2021 to present, the group has sold the products to the market and earned nearly VND500 billion.
The ingredients of the milk were declared as bird's nest extract, cordyceps, macadamia powder, and walnut powder, but in reality, none of these substances were present. To deceive consumers, the group removed some of the raw materials and replaced them with other additives. The police determined that the quality of the powdered milk was below 70% of the declared level for some substances - enough evidence to determine that it was counterfeit.
Tricks of suspects in fake food production
Colonel Nguyen Minh Tuan - Deputy Chief of Office of the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency - said that through investigating a number of recent cases, the police force has found that the production and trade of counterfeit food in general and nutritional supplements and functional foods in particular is very widespread.
The suspects used two main tricks: taking advantage of the State's regulations in the management of food production and business, allowing businesses to self-declare products; self-declare quality indicators, content, nutritional ingredients, features, and effects of the product. However, this is not subject to management, inspection, testing, or licensing before circulation.
Businesses and individuals can now simultaneously register multiple trademarks of the same product with many superior features, effects, high quality, suitable for many customer groups such as children, the elderly, dieters...
But in reality, these products share the same ingredients, formula, and production process. Only some main ingredients are supplemented or replaced or flavorings and additives are added to deceive consumers about the product's uses.
Another trick used by the suspects is to hire reputable, influential individuals online to advertise and sell products on social networking platforms. However, the sales are carried out with false information, exaggerating the features, effects, and quality of the products to attract consumers and sell a large quantity of products, making illegal profits.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan informed that the leaders of the Ministry of Public Security have directed the investigation agency to thoroughly and strictly investigate and handle acts of trading and producing counterfeit goods.
At the same time, strictly handle the acts of promotion, introduction, and sales on social networking platforms of some famous individuals. Thereby creating deterrence, prevention, and warning for consumers.
Nearly 600 types of fake milk "not tested"
According to the Ministry of Public Security, during the search of 19 locations including factories and offices of the suspects, the police seized 84 different types of powdered milk products with a quantity of 26,740 cans/90 production batches and many documents and objects serving the investigation.
The investigation agency initially determined that from 2021 to present, Rance Pharma Company and Hacofood Company have also left out the accounting books to declare and pay actual revenue tax, causing a loss to the state budget of more than 28 billion VND.
At the police station, Ho Sy Y (37 years old, from Ha Tinh ) stated that all information and nutritional content for producing powdered milk "were not checked, leading to such errors".
Meanwhile, Dang Trung Kien (37 years old) stated: "In reality, there is almost no testing of all nutrients."
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/duong-day-san-xuat-sua-gia-phan-phoi-hang-ra-sao-20250414084807622.htm
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