Ho Chi Minh City busts food counterfeiting racket selling 50 metric tons of fake specialty meat

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security said on Friday that the suspects had been prosecuted for producing and trading counterfeit food products.

Investigators said the group marketed pork as high-priced meats such as porcupine, ostrich, deer, and Australian goat to deceive consumers and restaurants.

Police simultaneously inspected and searched three establishments in Binh Tri Dong Ward, as well as Ba Diem and Xuan Thoi Son Communes.

They also checked multiple cold storage facilities and restaurants believed to have purchased or consumed the fake products across the city and neighboring provinces, including Lam Dong, Dong Nai, and Dak Lak.

Authorities determined that since late 2024, the suspects had produced and distributed more than 50 metric tons of counterfeit meat falsely labeled as ostrich, goat, and Australian goat shank, as well as sliced porcupine and deer meat.

All of the products were made entirely from pork.

The counterfeit goods were valued at around VND10 billion, or nearly US$382,000, based on the market prices of genuine products, while the group earned illicit profits totaling billions of Vietnamese dong, with VND1 billion equivalent to about $38,200.

Investigators said they are continuing to trace suppliers of raw materials and identify downstream distributors and buyers to handle all related violations in accordance with the law.

City police described the case as particularly serious, noting that it sparked public outrage, disrupted the business environment, and posed potential threats to food safety and public health.

The crackdown on the ring, they said, highlights the determination and effectiveness of local law enforcement in combating food-related crimes, protecting consumers, and maintaining a healthy marketplace.

Following the crackdown, police urged consumers to pay closer attention to food quality and purchase only products with clear and verifiable origins.

They also called on food producers and traders to protect their brands and apply traceability technologies.

Authorities further urged businesses to refrain from trading counterfeit or origin-unknown products and to cooperate in verifying supply chains to prevent and address violations involving fake or undocumented food.