Ring fakes 'traditional oriental medicine' with corn flour, Western drugs

Doan Thi Lam and Doan Cao Cuong are accused of using corn flour, glutinous rice flour, and Western pharmaceuticals to produce "traditional oriental weight-gain medicine" for online sale.

Ha Tinh Provincial Police recently detained Doan Thi Lam, 54, and Doan Cao Cuong, 42, along with three accomplices from Duc Minh commune. They are under criminal investigation for manufacturing and trading fake goods.

Suspect Doan Thi Lam at the investigation agency. Photo: Duc Quang

According to the investigation, Lam and Cuong acquired tools and raw materials in 2023. They then opened two "oriental weight-gain medicine" production facilities at their private homes in Duc Tho commune.

The group used corn flour, glutinous rice flour, and traditional Chinese herbal powder of unknown origin as a base. They mixed these with Western pharmaceuticals, including Alphamethason-DHT (containing dexamethason), Panactol, and cinarizin. They hired local workers for the production, packaging, and labeling of the finished products.

Once completed, the fake medicine was marketed across various social media platforms. Advertisements claimed the products promoted "good appetite, deep sleep, and rapid weight gain".

Police seized exhibits, took statements from suspects. Video: Duc Quang

In late January, Ha Tinh Provincial Police simultaneously raided the two facilities. Officers seized over one ton of pills, hundreds of thousands of Western medicine tablets, and over one ton of raw materials such as molasses, corn flour, glutinous rice flour, and traditional Chinese herbal powder, all without clear origin.

Inspection results confirmed that the drug samples contained no herbal ingredients, contrary to what was stated on the packaging. Furthermore, the substances found in the medicine were not approved for circulation by regulatory authorities.