Vietnamese Couple Arrested for Producing and Selling Fake Traditional Medicine

Authorities in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, have launched a criminal investigation into a couple accused of manufacturing and distributing counterfeit traditional medicine. Huynh Van Man and Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong, both 40, from Đồng Tháp province, allegedly produced fake remedies for conditions like arthritis and sinusitis by mixing Western pharmaceuticals with traditional ingredients.

Investigators found that the couple, lacking any formal medical or traditional medicine training, began producing these fake drugs in 2020. They allegedly purchased medicines containing paracetamol, dexamethasone, and chlorpheniramine, along with various B vitamins, and combined them with traditional herbs. These concoctions were then packaged and marketed under false names, such as "Nguyễn Văn Sáu traditional medicine" and "Đỗ Thái Nam traditional medicine," despite no such practitioners existing.

The illicit operation extended to online sales via Facebook, reaching customers across Vietnam. The couple also supplied their fake products to distributors in various regions, including Thanh Hóa province. A raid on their production facility in Đồng Tháp uncovered a significant operation, with authorities seizing over a ton of raw materials, 50 kilograms of pre-ground Western medicine powder, and more than 100,000 finished units of the counterfeit medicine.

Forensic analysis of the seized products confirmed the presence of acetaminophen (paracetamol), dexamethasone, and chlorpheniramine. Dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine are listed as banned substances for use in health protection products by the Ministry of Health. While Huynh Van Man and Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa have been detained, Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong is currently under a travel ban due to having a young child.