Police bust massive fake fertilizer production ring in southern Vietnam

The economic crime investigation division under the municipal Department of Public Security on Saturday announced that it had successfully broken up the ring, masterminded by an individual residing in Vinh Long Province.

Investigators on February 2 discovered a pickup truck transporting goods to Thanh Hoa Commune in Can Tho City under suspicious circumstances.

The vehicle, driven by Tran Phuong Vu, a resident of Dong Thanh Ward, Vinh Long Province, was stopped and inspected in accordance with administrative procedures.

During the inspection, police seized 240 kilograms of mixed PK 40-25 fertilizer branded ‘Super Flower Bud Booster P.K 60-60,’ registered under East West Technology Company, 400 kilograms of organic fertilizer ORGACA CRF1, registered as produced by Carton Fertilizer and Materials JSC, and 20 liters of foliar micronutrient fertilizer DOTA KALI40, registered under East West Technology Company.

Vu failed to show invoices or documents proving the origin of the goods.

He told police that the entire shipment, manufactured by Three Lions Production Import Co., Ltd., was being delivered to Viet Doan Agricultural Supplies Store in Thanh Hoa Commune, with a declared value of VND40 million (US$1,560).

Following this discovery, officers conducted simultaneous emergency searches of two locations, including the household business run by Tran Thi Trieu at 584/10 Dong Hau Hamlet, Dong Thanh Ward, Vinh Long Province, and Three Lions Production Import Co., Ltd., located in Dong Thanh Ward.

The company is owned by Nguyen Van Thiet, Trieu’s husband, with Trieu listed as its director.

Also, officers seized suspected counterfeit and substandard fertilizers from Toan Tuyen Agricultural Supplies Store in Son Phu 2A Hamlet, Dai Thanh Commune and from Ngoc Linh TR Company in My Xuan Hamlet, Hau My Commune, Dong Thap Province.

The total quantity was 4,598 kilograms of fertilizer and 1,335 liters of liquid fertilizer of various types, reportedly produced within just four days.

In addition, investigators confiscated relevant documents, records, electronic data, packaging materials, raw ingredients, machinery, equipment, and vehicles used in the production and sale of fake fertilizers.

The total value of the seized items was estimated at VND1.8 billion ($70,275).

To establish the case, Can Tho police had earlier checked East West Technology Company, based in Binh Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City and Carton Fertilizer and Materials JSC in An Binh Ward, Can Tho City.

Both companies confirmed they had never signed contracts for processing, packaging, distribution, trademark licensing or authorization to use product names, circulation decisions or fertilizer codes with Three Lions Production Import Co., Ltd. for import or production purposes.

Investigators determined that the counterfeit fertilizer operation began in April last year and continued until it was dismantled.

During questioning, Thiet admitted to establishing four companies, including Three Lions Production Company, Three Lions Production Import Co., Ltd., Hung Thinh Biochemical Agriculture Co., Ltd., and PHOENIX Agricultural Medicine Import Export Company to produce and trade fertilizers.

Of these, Three Lions Production Company and Three Lions Production Import Company were headed by Trieu as director, while Thiet directly supervised production and managed all business operations.

Police found that none of the four companies had been granted certificates qualifying them to produce fertilizers, nor were they authorized or contracted by legitimate companies to manufacture or package fertilizer products currently on the market.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Dung and Vu, employees of Three Lions Production Import Company, admitted to participating in the production and packaging of fertilizer products at the company.

Trieu claimed she was not involved in fertilizer production activities and said her role was limited to live-stream sales on TikTok.

Police are expanding the probe into the case.