At an Oct. 1 press conference on the Ministry of Public Security's third-quarter performance in 2026, a representative of the Police Investigation Agency for Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes, known as C03, said investigators had charged 39 suspects in a case involving the Center for Testing, Verification and Quality Services, or Retaq, NhoNho Technology Co., Thuy Fruit One Member Co. and related organizations and individuals.

Investigators determined that the case involves growing-area codes and durian testing certificates used for exports to China.

According to the C03 representative, police have identified cases in which officials allegedly abused their positions and powers to issue unlawful policies, with signs that additional licensing requirements were created to serve vested interests and generate illicit profits.

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From left: Nguyen Thi Ha, Hoang Trung, Be Thi Thu Hien and Nguyen Quang Hieu. Photo: Ministry of Public Security

Investigators also found alleged interference and instructions to subordinates involving the issuance of inspection certificates and growing-area codes, as well as the illegal sale of growing-area and packing-facility codes.

The investigation agency is continuing to consolidate documents and evidence as it expands the probe, seeks to clarify alleged criminal conduct by related organizations and individuals, and recover assets.

The Ministry of Public Security had previously announced on the evening of July 28 that investigators were expanding the case involving allegations of giving bribes, accepting bribes, brokering bribes, violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences, exploiting influence over people holding positions and powers for personal gain, and forgery in the course of official duties.

The alleged offenses occurred at Retaq, NhoNho Technology Co., Thuy Fruit One Member Co. and related organizations and individuals and were linked to durian exports to China.

C03 investigators said they had determined that Hoang Trung, then deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and Nguyen Quang Hieu, deputy director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, allegedly abused their positions and powers to issue unlawful policies.

Investigators said there were signs that additional licensing requirements had been introduced to serve vested interests and generate particularly large illicit personal gains.

The two men were also accused of interfering with and instructing subordinates to issue fraudulent testing certificates and growing-area codes, as well as engaging in the illegal trading of growing-area and packing-facility codes.

According to police, the alleged violations seriously harmed the legitimate rights and interests of durian growers and exporters, caused particularly large losses to the state budget, and damaged the reputation and brand of Vietnam's agricultural sector as a whole.

Based on the investigation and evidence collected, C03 charged and detained Trung and Hieu on allegations of accepting bribes.

Nguyen Thi Ha, head of Regional Plant Quarantine Sub-Department No. 7 under the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, and Be Thi Thu Hien, head of the Huu Nghi - Lang Son Quarantine Station, were charged with forgery in the course of official duties.

Dinh Hieu