Ho Chi Minh City police dismantle large fake RON A95 gasoline ring

The municipal police investigation agency said on Tuesday that it has arrested and prosecuted eight suspects on charges of producing and trading counterfeit goods under the Vietnamese Penal Code.

Those detained include Tran Van Duc, 55; Le Thanh Tu, 40; Nguyen Van Yen, 46; Nguyen Hong Hai, 51; and four others, including Duc’s wife.

The case came to light after police, acting on a tip-off, carried out a surprise inspection at Duc Loi fuel station at 195 Da Nam Street in Chanh Hung Ward on January 17.

During the inspection, officers discovered that counterfeit gasoline was being produced directly at the station.

Inspectors caught Duc, the station owner, and Tu, a fuel tanker driver, pumping SPSOL-PEE industrial solvent and adding colorants into an underground tank containing A95 gasoline to make it resemble genuine fuel before releasing it for sale.

Officers subsequently sealed and seized numerous exhibits, vehicles, and documents to support the investigation.

As the inquiry expanded, police traced the origin of the solvents and identified Yen as the organizer behind the mixing and production of fake gasoline at a tanker yard located at 818 Nguyen Duy Trinh Street in Long Truong Ward.

Investigators determined that the ring operated in an organized manner, buying pure RON A95 base gasoline and blending it with industrial solvents and colorants in specific ratios to increase volume and reduce quality while preserving the appearance of genuine RON A95 gasoline.

The counterfeit fuel was then sold at petrol stations at prices similar to those of genuine gasoline to generate illegal profits.

Police said the operation functioned through two main branches.

One, organized by Yen, focused on mixing and swapping gasoline and solvents at the tanker yard before distributing the fake fuel.

The other, led by Nguyen Hong Hai, supplied solvents, coordinated transportation, and oversaw mixing at fuel stations, including Duc Loi.

Testing conducted by the city-based Quality Assurance and Testing Center 3 found that all seized gasoline samples failed to meet national technical standards and did not qualify as RON A95 gasoline under current regulations.

Authorities said the production, sale, and use of counterfeit gasoline seriously undermine economic management order and pose significant dangers to consumers and society.

Investigators are continuing to expand the probe to identify additional suspects, clarify the sources of base gasoline and solvents, determine the volume of counterfeit fuel sold, and strictly handle all violations in accordance with the law.

Fuel experts warned that substandard gasoline can damage engines, reduce performance, increase fuel consumption, and even cause vehicle fires or explosions, threatening traffic safety.

The addition of industrial solvents and colorants also alters the chemical composition of fuel, raising concerns about environmental pollution and long-term health risks.