On January 28, the Dong Nai provincial police issued an arrest warrant and detained Le Thi Bich Phuong (born 1983, residing in Thong Nhat, Dong Nai) for violating food safety regulations.

Based on surveillance and investigative operations, authorities discovered signs of serious food safety violations at Phuong’s facility.

Initial findings revealed that throughout 2024, Phuong had purchased about 12 tons of pigs that had died from African swine fever in the former districts of Dinh Quan and Thong Nhat. She paid prices ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 VND (approximately $0.40 to $1) per kilogram.

After bringing the pigs home, she butchered and sorted the meat into portions like pork belly and lean cuts. These were then sold at prices between 70,000 and 85,000 VND ($2.80 to $3.40) per kilogram to customers in Dong Nai and Ba Ria–Vung Tau for profit.

Due to the large quantity of diseased pork, Phuong purchased industrial freezers, ice boxes, and cold storage containers to preserve the meat before distribution - until police uncovered and shut down the operation.

All pork samples submitted for testing came back positive for African swine fever virus. Forensic analysis by the Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Environment confirmed that the samples contained pathogens listed among notifiable terrestrial animal diseases.

Hoang Anh