Police bust fake sanitary pad facility in Vietnam’s Hung Yen

Do Thi T., a resident of Yen My Commune in Hung Yen and owner of the facility allegedly making counterfeit goods, was arrested and indicted on May 22 for producing counterfeit goods, according to the provincial police.

The case emerged on May 17, when a joint team of police and market surveillance officers stopped a suspicious truck for inspection and discovered it was transporting 11,040 packs of sanitary pads labeled ‘Kotex’ and ‘Thach Thao,' which showed signs of counterfeit branding.

At the time of inspection, T., identified as the owner of the goods, was unable to present invoices or documents proving their legal origin.

Following this initial discovery, authorities expanded their investigation to a facility operated by T. in the same commune, where they uncovered a production and packaging line for sanitary pads.

At the site, investigators seized 37,180 finished packs bearing multiple brands, including ‘Kotex,' ‘Lisa,' ‘Diana,' 'Anh Duong,' ‘Viet Thai,' and ‘Thach Thao.'

They also found more than 525,000 unpacked sanitary pad units, nearly two metric tons of packaging materials, as well as labels, machinery, and equipment allegedly used in the counterfeit operation.

Authorities estimated the total value of the seized sanitary pads at nearly VND1 billion ($38,000), based on the market price of genuine products.

T. admitted to investigators that she purchased raw materials and packaging to produce counterfeit sanitary pads.

She then used heat-sealing machines to assemble and package the products for sale on the market.

Based on the inspection results, packaging evidence and initial testimony, authorities concluded that the seized goods showed clear signs of being counterfeit.

The facility was ordered to immediately suspend operations, while machinery and equipment were sealed and all exhibits confiscated for further investigation.

Subsequent verification confirmed that the seized products were counterfeit, after the trademark owners of the listed brands said they were neither manufactured, authorized nor licensed by their companies.

They also said they had no business cooperation, joint ventures or production agreements with T.’s establishment.

Officials said counterfeit sanitary products have been increasingly detected, posing risks not only to legitimate businesses but also to consumer health.

Medical experts warned that counterfeit sanitary pads often have poor absorbency, deform easily, may emit unpleasant odors during use, and can cause skin irritation, infections and other health complications.

Consumers are advised to purchase products with clear origins from reputable suppliers to ensure safety.