Authorities on May 22 announced criminal charges against Luu Phat Thuan, born in 1991 and residing in Ho Chi Minh City, for “infringing industrial property rights.”

According to investigators, the case is part of a 45-day citywide crackdown campaign launched under directives from the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department.

Earlier, on May 14, the city’s Economic Police Division coordinated with Market Surveillance Team No. 3 and Long Truong Ward police to conduct a surprise inspection at 42 D7 Street in Long Truong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

The location was identified as the headquarters of Thale Group Co., Ltd., where Luu Phat Thuan served as the legal representative.

During the inspection, authorities discovered a particularly large quantity of counterfeit goods, including thousands of pairs of shoes, sandals, and socks bearing famous international brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Converse.

Investigators said the products imitated trademarks from the United States and member countries of the European Union. None of the seized items had invoices or documents proving their origin.

At the police station, Luu Phat Thuan admitted he began trading counterfeit goods around June 2023.

To operate the scheme, Thuan allegedly sourced shoes and sandals of unclear origin through online channels and e-commerce platforms. He then created social media accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, along with a store on Shopee, all using the name “thanhstore” to advertise products and attract customers.

Once orders were confirmed, the suspect allegedly sold products directly to consumers and arranged deliveries through Shopee to generate illegal profits.

Investigators determined that over nearly three years, from June 2023 to April 30, 2026, Luu Phat Thuan earned more than VND3.5 billion ($134,000) in illegal profits through the operation.

The Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency said it is continuing to expand the investigation and track down additional individuals connected to the case for further legal action.