Police smash ring selling ASF-affected pork to Hanoi markets, restaurants

Four suspects, Le Van Tuoi, Du Dinh Hoi, Nguyen Viet Chiem, and Dang Van Huy, have been arrested and are under investigation for violations of food safety regulations, the municipal police announced on Wednesday.

The arrests followed coordinated raids on June 30 and July 1 by Hanoi police, market surveillance authorities, and other agencies across multiple facilities.

At the slaughterhouse operated by Tuoi and another person, authorities discovered 45 live pigs showing signs of illness, 1,050 kilograms of whole pork carcasses, and 450 kilograms of offal.

In total, 4,300 kilograms of illicit pork products were seized, estimated to be worth over VND318 million (US$12,160).

During simultaneous raids at kiosks in Phung Khoang Market owned by Hoi, Chiem, and others, inspectors confiscated a further 977 kilograms of untraceable pork valued at VND98 million ($3,750).

Laboratory tests confirmed that samples taken from these pigs, along with the pork and offal, tested positive for the ASF virus—a highly contagious and deadly disease among swine.

Investigators affirmed that pork from infected animals is legally banned from the food supply and must be destroyed.

Following their arrest, the suspects confessed that they had been sourcing weak and sick pigs since 2023, primarily through Huy, who procured animals from several northern provinces.

These pigs were illegally slaughtered at private residences and sold on the Hanoi market for VND60,000 per kilogram, generating illicit monthly profits of up to VND80 million ($3,060).

At Phung Khoang Market, the group purchased dead pigs for just VND20,000 ($0.8) per kilogram, slaughtered them, and sold the meat to traders for VND40,000 ($1.6) per kilogram.

These traders then sold the meat to market-goers or small eateries for between VND50,000 ($1.9) and VND70,000 ($2.7) per kilogram.

According to Hanoi police, the illegal slaughterhouses operated only in the early hours (12:30 am to 3:00 am) under a tightly controlled system with posted lookouts.

Transport of diseased or dead pork to market stalls was carried out via village lanes and hidden paths instead of main roads.

Once at the outlets, the suspicious meat was mixed with fresh pork from healthy pigs before being sold to customers.

Investigators are now expanding their probe to identify all individuals and trace the full distribution network behind this scheme.