HIUP fake milk powder case: Revealing a series of businesses involved in the 'trillion-dollar' chain, many surprises

In the case of counterfeiting HIUP branded milk powder that has just been prosecuted, authorities initially identified at least three related businesses, playing different roles in the production chain distributing the product to the market.

Defendants Hoang Quang Thinh (left) and La Khac Minh - Photo: Ministry of Public Security

As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , the Investigation Police Agency (C01) has prosecuted a series of leaders of three enterprises to investigate the crimes of "violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences" and "producing and trading in counterfeit food products".

All three companies are headquartered in Hanoi . Currently, the websites and official Facebook pages of the companies are inaccessible.

Large-scale "ecosystem" Z Holding

The list of indictments includes Mr. Hoang Quang Thinh - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Z Holding Joint Stock Company, along with a series of leaders of this enterprise, including the deputy general director and heads of accounting and finance departments.

Z Holding was only established in October 2020, operating mainly in the field of wholesale of functional foods, headquartered on the 11th floor, Gold Tower building, 275 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan district.

Z Holding's initial registered charter capital was 1.9 billion VND. Founding shareholders included: Nguyen Van Minh (contributing 40%), La Khac Minh (30%) and Le Thi Thao (30%).

Among them, both La Khac Minh and Nguyen Van Minh - in the role of deputy general director of the company - were arrested.

Notably, information from VTV revealed that Hoang Quang Thinh, Nguyen Van Minh and La Khac Minh have established and operated dozens of businesses and hundreds of business households in the Z Holding "ecosystem", with a total of thousands of employees. Revenue is estimated at up to 6,700 billion VND.

In addition, the related list includes leaders of two other businesses: Nature Made Trading and Production Joint Stock Company and Alama Trading and Technology LLC.

In which, Nature Made Trading and Production Joint Stock Company was identified as the unit directly producing fake milk.

Before the incident was exposed, this company advertised itself as "one of the leading production facilities in the field of manufacturing and processing powdered milk and food...".

According to data from the Hanoi Business Registration Office, Nature Made was newly established in February 2023, headquartered in Uy No commune, Dong Anh district, with an initial charter capital of VND5 billion. Founding shareholders include: Dao My Linh (55% of capital), Le Van Duyen (25%) and Nguyen Thi Bich Hong (20%).

Although it has only been in operation for less than two years, this company has increased its capital three times. The most recent update in May 2024 was that the charter capital was increased from VND15 billion to VND45 billion. The adjusted shareholder structure was not disclosed.

Ms. Dao My Linh (born in 1997) has been the legal representative and general director since its establishment.

At this enterprise, Le Van Duyen - a former shareholder (currently unspecified), Nguyen Thi Thu Hien - director of Nature Made and Pham Duy Tan - former director of Nature Made - have all been prosecuted for "producing counterfeit food products".

Denying involvement in nearly 600 types of fake milk powder, but in the end... still fake?

Alama Vietnam Trading and Technology Company Limited is identified as the copyright owner and official distributor of HIUP milk.

According to data from the Hanoi Business Registration Office, this company was established in May 2020, headquartered in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi.

Alama's main business is wholesaling food, including vegetables, meat, sugar, milk and dairy products, and trading in functional foods... In addition, the company is also registered to operate in 59 other industries.

At the time of establishment, Alama's charter capital was 1.9 billion VND. Mr. Tran Xuan Chien (born in 1996, from Thai Binh ) is the director, legal representative, and owner of the business.

By July 2024, Mr. Chien had increased the company's charter capital to 5 billion VND.

Before the incident was exposed, Mr. Chien said that HIUP was researched and developed based on reputable scientific documents and professional consulting information from partners in the field of nutrition.

In addition, before the noise about the "exaggerated" advertising of milk's benefits in April 2025, Alama issued a statement affirming that it was not related and had no connection with the organizations and individuals producing and trading nearly 600 types of fake milk powder that were being reported by the media.

However, the director of this company has just been prosecuted for "trading in fake food products" in another case.

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BINH KHANH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vu-sua-bot-hiup-gia-he-mo-loat-doanh-nghiep-lien-quan-duong-day-nghin-ti-nhieu-bat-ngo-20250619220755299.htm