Pigs infected with African Swine Fever knowingly sold and consumed in Thanh Hóa

Authorities in Vietnam's Thanh Hóa province are cracking down on the illegal trade of pigs infected with African Swine Fever, prosecuting multiple cases in recent months. Since late March, law enforcement has investigated and filed charges in four separate instances of selling and consuming diseased pork, highlighting a dangerous disregard for public health.

In a recent development on June 19, the Thanh Hóa Provincial Police Investigation Agency indicted three individuals: Nguyễn Thị Trang, 36, Lê Văn Thu, 60, and Nguyễn Hữu Luân, 39. They face charges related to the sale and consumption of pigs infected with the highly contagious African Swine Fever, a violation of Article 317 of the Criminal Code. Trang was found preparing to sell meat from sick pigs, admitting she purchased them from Luân, with Thu acting as the intermediary.

Earlier, on June 2, Tào Văn Hải, 31, sought to sell his entire herd of 21 pigs after they contracted the disease. He enlisted Lưu Văn Đông, 50, a broker, who then sold the infected pigs to Hoàng Văn Thành, 54, for over 71 million dong. Thành subsequently sold them to Trần Quốc Điển, 60, for 84 million dong. Điển proceeded to slaughter and sell four of the pigs before authorities intervened, confiscating the remaining infected animals. The police have initiated legal proceedings against four defendants in these cases.

Similar incidents occurred on March 31 and April 29, resulting in the seizure and destruction of dozens of infected pigs and the prosecution of several individuals. Authorities noted that in these cases, both farmers and buyers were fully aware of the pigs' diseased status but proceeded with the trade anyway. Lương Xuân Vũ, head of the provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, cited the province's numerous small-scale slaughterhouses and large pig population as significant challenges in controlling the spread and consumption of infected meat.