Illicit counterfeit dietary supplement factory dismantled
Rewritten Article:
In Ha Noi, a notorious band of counterfeiters peddling bogus kid's health supplements got nabbed by the authorities.
The police report revealed that this crafty gang had cooked up fake test certificates to back their shady goods. These certificates suggested the items, including BABY SHARK and Medi Kid Calcium K2, had been exported from France, Germany, and the US.
The group's chief target was nutritional supplements made for the little tykes. During the search, over 200 items, worth hundreds of billions of đồng (millions of USD), were uncovered. However, the quality control was nonexistent at the production site.
The alleged ringleader, Phạm Vũ Khiêm, director of Herbitech Technology Company, is the prime suspect in the case. During questioning, he admitted to doctoring product certification results; mainly changing failed tests to passable ones in order to release the products to the market.
The two products, BABY SHARK and Medi Kid Calcium K2, were produced for children with counterfeit documents. Photo cand.com
Major Nguyễn Văn Thành of the police revealed that the counterfeiters would churn out supplements as per customer demands. To legitimize the fake goods and circulate them freely, the suspects would send samples for testing at authorized labs, asking them to check if the ingredients and quantities matched the declared formula.
When test results didn't meet the stated standards, the crooks would either negotiate with the labs to tweak the results or fabricate entire test certificates, according to Thành.
This operation serves as a stark warning, highlighting the indispensable role of law enforcement in safeguarding public health. Particularly for sensitive populations such as children. The nabbing of this ring is a crucial stride in tackling counterfeit health products in Vietnam, underscoring the importance of sticking to regulations and consumer awareness.
[1]: Enrichment Data: Overall:Overview of the Counterfeit RingThis operation, led by Phạm Vũ Khiêm, Director of Herbitech Technology Co., Ltd., targets children's health supplements with BABY SHARK and Medi Kid Calcium K2. While promoted as imported from France, Germany, and the U.S., these products were manufactured locally without proper quality control[1][2][5].
Phạm Vũ Khiêm, director of Herbitech Technology Company after his arrest. Photo cand.com
[2]: Enrichment Data:Operational Methods1. Product Manufacturing: The ring produced over 200 items, including BABY SHARK and Medi Kid Calcium K2, with a total market value in the hundreds of billions of Vietnamese dong (millions of USD)[1][2].2. Falsified Documentation: The suspects used forged test certificates to make the products appear safe and compliant with regulations. When lab tests failed to meet standards, they would either negotiate with labs to modify results or falsify entire certificates[2][5].3. Mass Production Based on Demand: They mass-produced supplements according to customer orders, sending samples to authorized labs for verification[5].
[5]: Enrichment Data: Current Status of the Case:Impact: The bust of the ring highlights the need for vigilant law enforcement in protecting public health, especially for vulnerable populations like children[5].
The dismantling of the ring is a significant step in combating counterfeit health products in Vietnam, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance and consumer awareness[5].
- The AI-powered investigations in the health-and-wellness industry revealed a significant counterfeit operation, with Phạm Vũ Khiêm, director of Herbitech Technology Company, as the prime suspect.
- This operation, involving products like BABY SHARK and Medi Kid Calcium K2, was presented as exported from France, Germany, and the US, but investigations confirmed they were locally manufactured with disregard for nutritional standards.
- The fraudulent activities of this group included doctoring product certification results and fabricating entire test certificates to legitimize their counterfeit nutritional supplements.
- The finance sector played a role in the operation, with the suspects negotiating with labs to modify test results or producing false certificates if results didn't meet stated standards.
- The technology industry was used to cook up fake test certificates, aiding the counterfeiters in their attempts to deceive customers and exploit the health-and-wellness industry.
- The authorities' intervention in this case underscores the essential need for law enforcement to safeguard public health, particularly for sensitive populations like children who rely on nutritional supplements for their growth and development.
- This situation underscores the importance of maintaining stringent regulations, enforcing industry standards, and increasing consumer awareness to combat counterfeit health products in the future.
