Police dismantle massive MLM ring involving over 107,000 Vietnamese

The transnational MLM operation involved nearly 200,000 members worldwide, with 107,348 of them Vietnamese.

The scheme distributed unlicensed dietary supplements containing banned substances, posing serious health risks to consumers.

Police launched the investigation after detecting exaggerated health claims and suspicious marketing practices online.

On May 14, officers arrested four suspects for violating regulations on MLM activities.

Among them were Tat Van Hao, 48, of Ho Chi Minh City, and Nick Lim, whose real name is Lim Choon Foong, 43, a Malaysian national residing in the city. Both are alleged to have led the illegal network.

According to initial findings, Hao founded Ho Chi Minh City-based Bitney Vietnam Trading and Investment Co., Ltd. in 2019, offering products such as ‘Multi Juice’ fruit beverages, ‘Lucenta’ deer placenta supplements, and Bitney Multi Cream.

The company used a binary MLM model, operating without a direct selling license.

Despite lacking legal registration for MLM operations, Bitney Vietnam sold millions of overpriced units nationwide.

Investigators revealed that the products were marked up dozens of times above their import cost.

During the crackdown, police seized nearly VND2 billion (US$77,400) in cash, three cars, 15 mobile phones, seven laptops, 41,800 boxes of Multi Juice tea, and multiple company seals belonging to Bitney Vietnam and affiliated firms.

The police confirmed this is the largest MLM scheme by participant count ever uncovered in the country, with foreign nationals involved in its management.

Authorities said that the operation generated unlawful profits worth trillions of Vietnamese dongs.

Police are expanding the investigation into this large-scale MLM racket.