Counterfeit Conventional Medicine Ring Busted in Ho Chi Minh City
on January 24th, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department’s Department of Investigation of Corruption, Economic Crimes, Smuggling, and Environmental Crimes (PC03) announced the arrest of three individuals involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit traditional medicines. The suspects - Nguyen duy Hien (64), his wife ngo My Hoanh (53), and Vo Van nghe (33) – all residents of Ho Chi Minh City – are facing criminal charges.
The investigation began on January 8th when police discovered Vo Van Nghe transporting boxes of unidentified pills on a motorcycle in Binh Hung commune.Nghe confessed to being hired by Nguyen Duy Hien to deliver the goods to a distribution warehouse in Tay Ninh province. This led to the discovery of a large-scale operation producing fake traditional medicine.
Authorities found that Hien and Hoanh initiated the scheme after their previously registered pharmaceutical products were removed from the market. To deceive consumers, they branded the counterfeit medications with new names and created seemingly reputable brands. Packaging was deliberately designed to mimic imported products, featuring foreign labels and falsely claiming production origins in Singapore, China, and Hong Kong to obscure the source.
A particularly concerning finding revealed the inclusion of betamethasone, a potent corticosteroid, in the counterfeit traditional medicines. While providing rapid pain relief, this prohibited ingredient carries significant health risks with prolonged use, including dependency and severe side effects.
Police seized 13,096 units of counterfeit traditional medicine, along with production machinery, raw materials, labels, and packaging.The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to trace distribution channels and identify the source of the raw materials.