At a press conference reviewing the third quarter of 2026, held by the Can Tho municipal People's Committee on October 8, city police said they had initiated criminal proceedings in four cases involving five suspects accused of infringing industrial property rights.

Authorities seized 7,370 products with a combined estimated value exceeding $146,000.

According to Can Tho police, the investigations followed directives from the Minister of Public Security to implement the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 38/CD-TTg.

The city's police directed its division responsible for investigating corruption, economic crimes, smuggling and environmental offenses to carry out coordinated enforcement measures.

Officers focused on monitoring, inspecting and investigating businesses and household retailers suspected of selling counterfeit branded products or infringing industrial property rights.

Following inspections, verification and the collection of documents and evidence, the investigative police agency opened the four criminal cases and initiated proceedings against the five suspects.

All four cases involved shops and household businesses operating in Can Tho, primarily selling clothing, footwear, handbags and fashion accessories.

The seized products included clothing, shoes, sandals, hats, handbags, wallets, belts and backpacks bearing labels such as Burberry, Gucci, Hermès, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Zara and Adidas.

How police determine whether branded goods are counterfeit

Can Tho police explained that determining whether a product infringes industrial property rights requires more than examining its appearance or the logo displayed on it.

Investigators collect and seal goods suspected of bearing counterfeit trademarks before requesting an industrial property assessment from the National Institute of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The examination involves comparing identifying features on the products with registered trademarks, including the scope of trademark protection, relevant product categories and other factors.

The resulting expert assessment provides an important technical basis for investigators to determine whether the seized goods bear signs of counterfeiting protected trademarks.

Can Tho police said specialized units would continue strengthening surveillance, proactively identifying and investigating the production and sale of counterfeit branded goods and other industrial property rights violations.

Enforcement efforts will particularly target physical shops, household businesses and commercial activities conducted through e-commerce platforms.

The measures aim to protect the legitimate rights and interests of businesses and consumers while preventing infringing products from circulating in the market.

Several well-known fashion retailers in Can Tho have already become the subjects of criminal investigations.

Earlier, the Can Tho investigative police agency initiated criminal proceedings against Pham Van Tan, 43, owner of the Pham Van Tan household business, on suspicion of infringing industrial property rights.

Tan was also prohibited from leaving his place of residence while the investigation continued.

His shop is located on Mau Than Street in Ninh Kieu Ward, a central area of Can Tho.

Another suspect, Huynh Thanh Hien, born in 2002 and residing in Vinh Long province, was similarly placed under investigation for alleged industrial property rights infringement and prohibited from leaving his place of residence.

Hien owns the Thanh Hien Luxury store.

The Economic Police Division of Can Tho police also initiated criminal proceedings against Huynh Phuong Duy, owner of Thanh Duong Luxury.

In another case, Can Tho police formally initiated criminal proceedings against Huynh Ha Thi, owner of the well-known Ti Ti-Sy shop in the city.

Thi was also subjected to a travel restriction preventing her from leaving her place of residence during the investigation.

Hoai Thanh