On 1/10, Dak Lak provincial police announced that Pham Thi Thanh Dep, 47, director of Green Horse Production, Trading, Import-Export Company Limited, located in Thanh Loi commune, Tay Ninh province, has been temporarily detained on charges of producing and trading counterfeit goods, specifically fertilizer, under Article 195 of the Penal Code.

Also under investigation for the same charges are Vo Thi Kim Thuy, 43, director of Khanh Thu Fertilizer Company Limited; her husband, Duong Hong Son, who is a branch director; Do Xuan Nam, identified as the ringleader; Duong Van Tuan, a representative of Blue Zone Agriculture Company Limited; Ho Ba Duc; and Vo Vu Toai.

According to the investigation, Thuy and her husband colluded with Nam, who has a prior conviction for producing and trading counterfeit plant protection products. They imported cheap fertilizer from Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, and the Netherlands.

The goods were then repackaged, relabeled, and affixed with supplementary stamps indicating Belgian origin to be sold at higher prices, generating a profit margin of approximately 4,100-4,300 VND per kilogram.

During searches of the companies, workplaces of those involved, and several dealerships across various provinces and cities, police seized nearly 627 tons of fake fertilizer, along with over 957 tons of raw materials and fertilizer intended for mixing and packaging.

Authorities determined that from 2025 until the case was discovered, the ring sold over 24,240 tons of fertilizer labeled as Belgian origin, valued at over 159 billion VND, to approximately 200 businesses and dealerships in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Dong Thap.

Of this amount, only 461 tons genuinely originated from Belgium. The remaining over 23,779 tons, valued at over 154,5 billion VND, originated from other countries but were stamped and labeled to appear as Belgian products. According to the police, the group illicitly profited over 60 billion VND.

Expanding the investigation, on 25/9, Dak Lak provincial police initiated legal proceedings and temporarily detained Dep.

Police are urging businesses, dealerships, and individuals who have purchased, imported, or used fertilizer from Khanh Thu Fertilizer Company Limited, Blue Zone Agriculture Company Limited, Eximfer Vietnam Company Limited, and Green Horse Production, Trading, Import-Export Company Limited to provide information, documents, and remaining product samples to aid the investigation.

Authorities also warned against buying, selling, consuming, or disposing of the fraudulently sourced fertilizer from these companies.

Tran Hoa