On October 13, the Economic Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City officially arrested and prosecuted Vo Thi Ngoc Ngan (known online as Ngan 98) for producing and distributing counterfeit dietary supplements.

She is the founder and operator of ZuBu Trading and Services Co., Ltd. and ZuBu Shop, companies that have sold weight-loss products nationwide through online platforms since 2021.

Investigators confirmed that while some products under the Super Detox X3, X7 Plus, and X1000 brands had legal permits, Ngan used these to disguise the sale of unlicensed supplements, especially a product marketed as “vegetable collagen capsules.”

These capsules were not registered with the Ministry of Health, had no quality declarations, and were falsely labeled under the X3, X7, and X1000 brands.

Despite labeling them as “free gifts,” they were sold as essential parts of a full slimming regimen. Each set sold for 870,000 to 1.1 million VND (approximately $35 to $45) and promised 4 to 15 kilograms of weight loss.

Toxic ingredients and criminal deception

According to official lab results, many samples of these capsules were adulterated with sibutramine and phenolphthalein, both of which are banned substances known to cause cardiovascular issues, digestive disorders, and cancer.

These findings led the Ministry of Public Security and Ho Chi Minh City Police to conclude that Ngan had organized a sophisticated, large-scale counterfeit product distribution network.

Employees were hired to provide online consultations, take orders, and ship nationwide through Facebook, TikTok, and the company's hotline.

Between 2023 and 2024 alone, the scam generated hundreds of billions of dong (millions of dollars) in revenue.

The authorities are continuing to expand their investigation and are reviewing the roles of others involved.

Past controversies resurface

The arrest shocked the public, especially since Ngan had posted photos just a day earlier of herself doing charity work with her longtime boyfriend, singer-composer Luong Bang Quang.

Ngoc Ngan, born January 19, 1998, in Binh Dinh Province, first gained attention for her provocative image and bold statements on social media.

She transitioned into DJing around 2017 with the help of Luong Bang Quang, who introduced her to booking agents and venues, helping her launch a career in entertainment.

Her fees were reportedly 60–70 million VND per show (about $2,400–$2,800) and later rose to 100 million VND ($4,000) per performance. She often invested heavily in custom-designed, revealing outfits that matched her bold persona.

A trail of scandals before the fall

Prior to her arrest, Ngan had already become one of Vietnam’s most controversial online personalities.

In 2019, a leak of nude photos and explicit videos stirred public outrage. She claimed a hacker had stolen her phone and attempted to extort 300 million VND ($12,000), which she refused to pay.

In 2020, she was caught using illegal substances during a bar performance in Tay Ninh. She was fined 40 million VND and banned from performing for four months after appearing in excessively revealing attire at a Hanoi nightclub.

That same year, actress Yaya Truong Nhi sued Ngan for defamation, following inflammatory livestream statements. Ngan also regularly clashed with other internet personalities, including Ngoc Collagen, who accused her of selling dangerous weight-loss products.

Public fights, misleading clips, and staged breakups

In one high-profile incident, Ngan was filmed arguing with a security guard at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi. She later uploaded a video edited to portray herself as the victim, though surveillance footage suggested otherwise.

Her on-and-off relationship with Luong Bang Quang became a tabloid spectacle. The couple’s overly intimate livestreams drew criticism for being inappropriate. They repeatedly announced dramatic breakups, followed by reconciliations, which led many to believe the drama was staged for attention.

Regulators vow stricter oversight of influencer marketing

Following Ngan’s arrest, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports announced plans to tighten regulations on celebrity-led advertising, particularly in health and beauty sectors.

This follows multiple cases involving questionable product promotions by public figures like Doan Di Bang and Ngoc Collagen.

The Department has proposed stronger mechanisms to monitor and penalize individuals who advertise unverified health products online, citing the risks to public health and consumer safety.