Ho Chi Minh City police bust fake Ajinomoto seasoning ring, arrest 3

The case was uncovered as part of an ongoing 45-day crime crackdown campaign launched under the direction of the department's leadership, the municipal Department of Public Security said on Saturday.

Duong Thi Yen Xuan, 56, Duong Thi Yen Oanh, 47, and Thach Hieu, 47, all local residents, have been indicted on charges of producing and trading in counterfeit food additives.

Earlier, while police officers were patrolling Cau Kinh Street in Tan Tao Ward, they spotted Hieu transporting cartons bearing the Ajinomoto brand on a motorbike.

Police stopped him for inspection and found that the cartons contained Ajinomoto seasoning packages without documents proving their origin.

Hieu later admitted the products were counterfeit, prompting officers to take him and the goods to police headquarters for further questioning.

Based on Hieu's statements, investigators identified Oanh as the alleged ringleader, who also organized the purchase of fake Ajinomoto packaging used in the operation.

Meanwhile, Hieu was reportedly in charge of packaging the counterfeit products, while Xuan allegedly helped store and transport the packaging and collect money from the sale of the fake goods.

During raids on locations linked to the ring, police seized 305 finished packets of counterfeit Ajinomoto seasoning, more than 23,000 empty counterfeit Ajinomoto-branded packaging bags of various types, and around 70 kilograms of raw seasoning powder.

Authorities also confiscated equipment allegedly used in the operation, including electronic scales, heat-sealing machines, filling and packaging tools, and related documents.

Initial findings showed that since around January this year, the group had purchased seasoning powder of unclear origin before repackaging it into counterfeit Ajinomoto-branded bags for sale to grocery stores and small shops across the city.

Investigators said the group had produced and sold more than four metric tons of fake seasoning powder before being caught, generating substantial illicit profits.

Police said the ring's activities not only infringed on the intellectual property rights of the brand owner but also posed serious risks to consumer health, the business environment, and economic management order.

Further investigation is underway, with authorities trying to identify and take action against others involved in the operation.