Police smash largest counterfeit Jotun paint operation in Vietnam’s Da Nang

The case came to light on Monday, when officers carried out simultaneous searches at the headquarters, warehouses, and showroom of Bao Ngoc Global Investment and Trading Co., Ltd.

During the raids, police confiscated more than five metric tons of counterfeit Jotun-branded water-based paint and wall putty, along with thousands of empty containers, labels, stamps, and other materials used in the production of fake goods.

Investigators identified Le Thai Binh, 42, and his wife Mai Thi Thanh Son, also 42, as the company’s owners, while Le Thanh Nhan, 31, was an employee directly involved in the illegal operation.

The city’s police investigation agency has launched criminal proceedings, placing Binh in temporary detention while banning Son and Nhan from leaving their place of residence as the probe expands.

Earlier, police received complaints from residents and construction contractors about Jotun-branded paint and wall putty being sold across the city at prices far below those offered by authorized distributors, raising concerns over counterfeit goods and substandard quality.

Further checks identified Bao Ngoc Global as a major supplier offering unusually large quantities of paint and wall putty products branded with Jotun, a well-known Norwegian brand, despite lacking authorization to distribute the products.

Initial findings showed the company had sourced empty Jotun paint cans and wall putty packaging from northern provinces, brought them to local warehouses and affixed fake traceability labels.

The suspects then mixed genuine Jotun paint with other types of paint in specific ratios, poured the mixture into branded containers and sold the finished products on the market, police said.

The same method was used to produce counterfeit Jotun wall putty products.

Investigators said they are expanding the probe to trace other individuals involved in the case.

Authorities described the ring as the largest counterfeit Jotun paint and wall putty production and trading operation ever uncovered in Da Nang.