The provincial police said their economic crime division identified several Zalo and Facebook accounts selling An Cung pills during online monitoring. The products were advertised as originating in South Korea, with claims relating to stroke prevention and protection.

Suspecting irregularities in the sales activity, investigators began examining the operation.

They identified an alleged network involving multiple people across several provinces and major cities.

Preliminary findings indicate that Nguyen Thanh Phuong Tuyen, born in 1988 and residing in Dong Thap province, organized production and supplied goods to others in the network, police said. Tuyen is the director of Tami Natural Home Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Although the products were advertised as originating in South Korea and China, investigators said they had not been imported through official channels.

The suspects allegedly purchased pills and ingredients of unknown origin, along with boxes, seals and labels, from China. These were then transported to Vietnam for packaging, finishing and sale.

Investigators said the pills were made primarily from wheat flour, chemicals, coloring agents and other ingredients.

Based on the evidence gathered, Thanh Hoa’s economic crime police simultaneously searched eight locations, including suspects’ homes, workplaces, warehouses and production sites, in Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh.

Police seized 10,000 boxes of assorted An Cung products, about 300kg of pills - reported as equivalent to more than one million pills - 3,000 empty boxes, more than 20,000 seals and labels, and various packaging machines and equipment.

The total quantity of goods involved was estimated at more than 1,000 tonnes.

Thanh Hoa provincial police have opened a criminal case and charged nine suspects with producing and trading counterfeit food products. Eight have been placed in pretrial detention.

The remaining suspect, who is caring for a child under 36 months old, has been barred from leaving their place of residence and temporarily prohibited from leaving the country, in accordance with the law.

The investigation is continuing and being expanded.

Qua khám xét, lực lượng chức năng thu giữ 10.000 hộp An Cung các loại, khoảng 300kg viên hoàn, tương đương hơn 1 triệu viên; 3.000 vỏ hộp; hơn 20.000 tem, nhãn mác cùng nhiều máy móc, thiết bị phục vụ việc đóng gói.

Tổng khối lượng hàng hóa ước tính hơn 1.000 tấn.