Bac Ninh police announced on 5/8 that its Security Investigation Agency has arrested and charged Ngo Thi Phuong Lan (49, director of Northern Printing Technology Investment Company Limited), Nguyen Thi Tuyen (36, owner of Hang Thang bookstore), and Ta Ngoc Long (27, owner of Phu Thinh bookstore) with producing and trading counterfeit goods.
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Two confiscated counterfeit English textbooks. Photo: Police Department |
Two confiscated counterfeit English textbooks. Photo: Police Department
According to the police, Lan masterminded the sophisticated operation, organizing the printing of a large quantity of counterfeit textbooks under the guise of a legitimate business. The production facility was located in a remote area with limited access.
After the books were printed, Lan distributed them to major bookstores like Hang Thang and Phu Thinh, owned by Tuyen and Long respectively. The counterfeit textbooks were then sold to various retailers and schools in Bac Ninh and Hanoi.
The group primarily distributed the books through social media and unofficial channels at 20-30% below the price of genuine textbooks. The counterfeit books closely resembled the real ones in appearance, color, and labeling, making them difficult for consumers to distinguish.
Between 29/7 and 3/8, police raided eight locations and summoned 12 individuals in Bac Ninh and Hanoi. Authorities seized 2,300 cartons containing over 185,000 counterfeit English textbooks from printing facilities, warehouses, and bookstores. The total value of the seized books is estimated at over 8 billion VND.
Police also confiscated 27 printing plates, a color printer, two trucks, and various materials and equipment used in the production and transportation of the counterfeit books. The total value of the seized assets is estimated at approximately 15 billion VND.
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The counterfeit textbook production facility. Photo: Police Department |
The counterfeit textbook production facility. Photo: Police Department
Police say the counterfeit textbooks infringe on the intellectual property rights of the Vietnam Education Publishing House and negatively impact the quality of teaching and learning in schools. Several bookstores involved in selling the counterfeit books had previously received administrative penalties from Bac Ninh police but continued their illegal activities due to the high profit margins.
