Ho Chi Minh City police bust major fake fish sauce, MSG, detergent production ring

The economic police division under the municipal Department of Public Security announced on Thursday that it had uncovered and broken up the operation following coordinated raids carried out in collaboration with the police forces of several wards such as Binh Duong, Thuan Giao, Binh Hoa and Binh Co.

Officers conducted simultaneous inspections at the residences of five suspects: Dinh Van Thanh, 46, Trinh Van Luan, 37, Nguyen Ngoc Quang, 39, Ho Cong Thuyen, 42, and Dinh Van Than, 40.

Officers found that the group had been manufacturing and trading counterfeit products, including MSG, seasoning powder, fish sauce, and detergent.

Police reported the seizure of nearly one metric ton of MSG, hundreds of kilograms of seasoning powder and detergent, and more than 1,500 unlabelled bottles of fish sauce.

Officers also confiscated three heat-sealing machines, four electronic scales, and large quantities of raw materials and packaging used in the counterfeiting process.

During questioning, these individuals admitted they were fully aware their activities violated the law, but continued production and distribution for profit.

The counterfeit goods were sold to grocery stores.

Than told investigators that since early 2025 he had distributed dozens of metric tons of substandard raw materials and supplied counterfeit packaging to some other individuals.

Police are expanding the probe into the case.