Authorities in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam, conducted a significant raid on April 26, 2025, targeting a company involved in the production of counterfeit food products. The operation uncovered a staggering amount of fake goods, including over 71,000 liters of cooking oil, approximately 40 tons of monosodium glutamate (MSG), 22 tons of seasoning seeds, and 9 tons of counterfeit seasoning powder. The raid took place at the facilities of Famimoto Vietnam Company Limited, located in the Dong Doi area of Thuy Van Commune, Viet Tri City.
In addition to the food products, police seized nearly 84 tons of various additives used in the production and repackaging of these counterfeit items. They also found around 1.6 million packaging shells and plastic containers, along with a complete production and packaging line. The counterfeit goods had already been distributed to kitchens in industrial parks, raising serious health concerns for workers consuming these products.
According to the police, Famimoto Vietnam Company Limited had sold 144 tons of cooking oil, 118 tons of seasoning powder, and 363 tons of fake seasoning seeds to the market. Investigations revealed that over 1,220 tons of MSG showed signs of label violations, indicating a widespread issue with product authenticity.
Nguyen Van Hung, the director of Famimoto Vietnam, admitted during questioning that the raw materials for the MSG and cooking oil were sourced from Quang Thanh Trading Company, based in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi. After purchasing the ingredients, the company repackaged them into two different brands: "MSG Boat Brand - Singapore origin brand" and "MSG Famimoto - Vietnam's leading MSG brand, Japanese Technology." Similarly, the cooking oil was repackaged as "Boat Brand Premium Cooking Oil - Singapore origin brand" and "Fami Gold Vegetable Oil - made from 100% Singapore imported raw materials."
For the production of "Hanoi High-Grade Seasoning Powder" and "Bep Hong Viet Seasoning Seeds," the company mixed raw materials from various suppliers, processed them into granules, dried them, and packaged them in nylon bags. All of these products were self-declared by Famimoto Vietnam.
In a related development, on the same day, the Department of Investigation of Crimes on Corruption, Economy, and Smuggling from the Ministry of Public Security announced the prosecution of another case involving the production and distribution of counterfeit food products. This case involved the seizure of over 100 tons of fake functional foods in Nam Dinh, highlighting a growing trend of counterfeit goods in the food sector.
Authorities discovered the counterfeit functional foods while the culprits were attempting to transport and sell them. The investigation also revealed two additional warehouses in Hanoi filled with finished products. The suspects confessed that the quality of these products fell significantly short of what was advertised, with many components only meeting a fraction of the declared standards.
In total, over 900 brands of health protection foods were identified in this operation, with a target demographic that included the elderly, children, and pregnant women. The companies involved claimed to import raw materials from the United States and European countries, but investigations showed that most were actually sourced from China.
The counterfeit operation has been running for nearly a decade, with Nguyen Nang Manh identified as the leader of the scheme. The group established multiple businesses, including one for raw material importation, two for production, two for distribution, and one for packaging, to create a facade of legitimacy for their operations.
Between 2021 and now, revenue generated by one of the six companies in this scheme reached over 800 billion VND. Many individuals involved in the operation had backgrounds as pharmacists, utilizing their expertise to navigate the pharmaceutical market effectively.
To legitimize their product quality claims, the perpetrators employed fake testing certificates. They also acknowledged that the actual quality of their products was significantly lower than what was advertised. As a result of these findings, the Department of Investigation of Crimes on Corruption, Economy, and Smuggling has initiated legal proceedings, arresting five individuals on charges of "Producing and trading fake goods that are food" and "Violating regulations on accounting causing serious consequences."
These recent operations underscore the ongoing battle against counterfeit food products in Vietnam, as authorities ramp up efforts to protect public health and ensure food safety standards are upheld. The Phu Tho Provincial Police continue to expand their investigation into Famimoto Vietnam Company Limited, seeking to hold accountable those involved in this extensive counterfeit operation.
