On 2/8, Quang Ninh Provincial Police announced the prosecution of a large-scale counterfeit health supplement production and trading operation.
The two suspects charged and whose homes and workplaces were searched are Dinh Thien Ly, 36, director of Tacopha Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and owner of Lacosme Pharma Co., Ltd., and Dang Thu Trang, 33, director of Gold Care High-Tech Pharmaceutical Company.
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Thien Ly at the police station. Photo: Police provided |
The Economic Police Department discovered that Hebe Luna, a health supplement produced by Tacopha, was widely advertised online as supporting female hormone balance, anti-aging, and enhancing libido.
On 30/7, authorities seized over 40,000 health supplement products, including: 2,260 boxes of Hebe Luna, 1,840 boxes of Hebe Libifem, 16,608 boxes of Icobe, and 20,218 boxes of Slim Lotus Tea.
Forensic science institute testing confirmed that all products were counterfeit, either containing none or very little of the advertised ingredients. Slim Lotus Tea was found to contain Sibutramine, a substance banned in health supplements due to potential neurological effects.
The investigation revealed that in late 2024, Ly ordered the formula for Hebe Luna and then contracted Gold Care for production. However, Ly did not provide the key ingredient, 9.5% Curcumin, as advertised, yet still requested the production of 5,000 boxes.
Dang Thu Trang is accused of knowingly producing the supplements despite the substandard ingredients. From 2/2025 until their arrest, the counterfeit products were distributed, generating billions of Vietnamese dong in illegal profits for the suspects.
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Investigators interviewing Dang Thu Trang. Photo: Police provided |
A representative of the Quang Ninh Provincial Police stated that the case demonstrates the force's commitment to combating counterfeit goods, particularly health supplements, a sector directly impacting public health.
The investigation is ongoing. Ly and Trang face charges of producing and trading counterfeit food, food additives, and dietary supplements, under Article 193 of the Criminal Code.
Le Tan
