Police bust fake medicine ring, seizing 20,000 bottles of finished products
VOV.VN - Police in Vietnam’s Nghe An Province have prosecuted 10 people for allegedly manufacturing and trading counterfeit medicines, uncovering a nationwide distribution network that used misleading herbal claims and online promotion to reach consumers.
The investigation found that Bui Van Truong, 54, from Kim Thanh commune in Hai Phong City, allegedly organised the production of counterfeit medicines marketed for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, stomach disorders and tumours. Police seized 20,000 bottles of finished products, more than 100kg of raw materials and equipment used in production, along with VND850 million (US$32,000) in cash.
According to investigators, Truong purchased medicinal herbs, pharmaceutical drugs and production equipment, then manufactured products at home without following proper procedures or accurately measuring their ingredients. He mixed pharmaceutical drugs with herbal materials before packaging and labelling the products.
The products were then advertised as being made entirely from herbs and based on a “family-secret formula”, despite the manufacturing process and ingredients described by investigators contradicting those claims. This misleading presentation helped create the impression that the products were traditional herbal remedies.
The network also relied on online promotion and distribution to reach customers across Vietnam. Truong allegedly worked with social media influencers, known as KOLs, and administrators of online pages and groups to promote and distribute the products.
Other people in the network allegedly repackaged the medicines, produced their own labels and resold them to consumers. This system allowed products from the same source to be marketed under different labels, while online advertising helped expand their reach.
Police identified Bui Thi Xuan, 30, from Tan Mai Ward in Nghe An province, as one of those involved in the network. The investigation found that between February and June 2026, the group sold medicines marketed for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis to thousands of customers nationwide through its online distribution system, generating illicit profits of around VND5 billion (US$190,000).
Police in Nghe An province said the provincial Investigation Police Agency has initiated a criminal case and prosecuted 10 people for allegedly manufacturing and trading counterfeit medicines. The investigation is underway.
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