On April 16, 2025, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police announced a significant breakthrough in the fight against counterfeit drugs, revealing a large-scale operation led by 34-year-old Nguyen Tien Dat from Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. The police arrested 14 individuals connected to this extensive network that produced and sold fake medicines, raising serious concerns about public health and safety.
The operation has garnered considerable public attention, particularly since it follows a previous case involving the dismantling of a counterfeit milk production ring that offered over 600 different products. Both cases highlight the alarming trend of counterfeit goods that directly affect consumers' health and well-being.
During the investigation, authorities seized a staggering 21 types of counterfeit medicines, including popular treatments for various ailments. Among the seized items were:
- 44 boxes of Tetracycline
- 40 boxes of Clorocid
- 49 boxes of Pharcoter
- 52 boxes of Neo-Codion
- 1,232 boxes of numbness and paralysis pills
- 4,122 boxes of Tui Hua Shen Jing Tong, commonly referred to as Singapore Degeneration Medicine
- 2,285 boxes of Cordyceps Ginseng Velvet tonic
- 1,923 boxes of Professor's Pill, often called green joint
- 5,172 boxes of Mujarhabat Kapsul, also known as green joint
- 2,017 boxes of Gai cost Hoan medicine
- 930 boxes of Toa cost Thien Ma Thong Phong Hoan medicine
- 6,612 boxes of Tuyet Lien Thien Ma Bao Khop Hoan medicine
- 1,014 boxes of Phong Te Nhu Bach Xa Vuong medicine
- 4,743 boxes of Phong Te Nhu Ho Cot Hoan medicine
- 845 boxes of multi-sinus nasal medicine
- 4,012 boxes of shoulder and neck pills
- 2,413 boxes of Yuan Bone medicine
- 834 boxes of bone degeneration plus medicine
- 515 boxes of Degeneration Joint pain Hoan plus medicine
- 657 boxes of escape sciatica medicine
In total, nearly 10 tons of counterfeit medicines and raw materials were confiscated, with illegal profits estimated at nearly 200 billion VND since the operation began in 2021. The sheer scale of this operation raises alarming questions about the safety of medications available in the market.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Tong Dinh Xuan, Deputy Head of the Economic Police Department of Thanh Hoa Province, the group employed sophisticated methods throughout their operation. They meticulously sourced raw materials, manufactured counterfeit drugs, and sold them directly to consumers, often targeting the elderly who were seeking affordable treatments for joint pain and other ailments.
"The group exploited the public's habit of purchasing medications without prescriptions and their lack of awareness regarding the origins of these drugs," Xuan stated. "They created confusion in the marketplace by using names that resembled legitimate products, making it easy for unsuspecting consumers to fall victim to their scams."
The investigation revealed that the counterfeiters did not merely replicate existing drugs but instead developed entirely new product names and claimed they were manufactured by foreign companies. This deceptive practice heightened the risk of consumers purchasing ineffective or even harmful medications.
Authorities conducted searches at six locations across major cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where the operation was based. The police discovered not only the counterfeit medicines but also a variety of equipment used in the production process, such as production lines, capsule-making machines, and packaging tools.
In addition to the counterfeit medicines, the police seized over 18,000 empty boxes, 142 kilograms of various pills and powders, and thousands of other unverified pharmaceutical products that lacked proper documentation to confirm their origins.
The scale of the operation and the methods employed by the perpetrators underscore the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating counterfeit goods. The use of virtual phone numbers and online sales platforms made it particularly difficult to trace the origins of the drugs and the individuals involved.
"The group's operation was highly sophisticated, utilizing technology to evade detection," Xuan explained. "They primarily sold their products through online applications, complicating our efforts to dismantle their network."
As the investigation continues, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police are calling on the public to be vigilant when purchasing medications and to report any suspicious products. The authorities emphasize the importance of obtaining medicines from reputable sources and always seeking professional medical advice before consuming any drugs.
In light of these events, the government is expected to ramp up efforts to regulate the pharmaceutical industry more strictly to prevent similar incidents in the future. The recent crackdown on counterfeit drugs serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against the illegal trade in unregulated and potentially dangerous products.
With the health and safety of consumers at stake, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police's decisive action against this counterfeit drug ring stands as a critical step in protecting the public and ensuring that legitimate medications remain accessible to those who need them most.
