On 25/12, Dang Hoang Dinh, 35, residing in Cam Lam commune, and six accomplices were prosecuted by Khanh Hoa Provincial Police. They face charges of violating food safety regulations under Article 317 of the Penal Code and have been prohibited from leaving their residence.

Police assert that the group's actions severely violated food safety regulations. These actions directly endangered consumer health and safety, significantly impacted the livestock industry, caused environmental pollution, and provoked public outrage.

Dead pigs prepared by the criminal group for processing and market sale. *Photo: Khanh Hoa Police*

Investigations revealed that Dinh hired six individuals to exhume dead and diseased pig carcasses, previously disposed of due to outbreaks, from burial sites. These carcasses were then transported to a vacant lot in Tan Sinh Tay hamlet, Cam Lam commune. At this location, the group butchered, pre-processed, and froze the meat, intending to distribute it for unlawful profit.

In the early hours of 30/11, the Anti-Corruption, Economic, and Smuggling Crime Investigation Police Department of Khanh Hoa Provincial Police, collaborating with other agencies, conducted a surprise inspection of Dinh's operation. Authorities discovered 304 pig carcasses, some dead and others exhibiting severe illness, at the site. Of these, 146 pigs had already been butchered, while 33 were alive but frail. The estimated value of the seized evidence totaled approximately 850 million dong.

Dinh's group had already processed over 5 tons of pork, which they sold for more than 500 million dong. Laboratory tests on 304 samples revealed that 295 were positive for the african swine fever virus.

Khanh Hoa Provincial Police are currently expanding their investigation into the case.

Bui Toan