Police in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam have busted the province’s largest-ever fake cosmetics production ring. Photo: Supplied
The illegal operation was allegedly headed by Nguyen Thanh Phuong Tuyen, 38, a resident of Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam.
She was identified as the director of Tami Natural Home Cosmetics Medicine Products Company.
According to investigators, she used the company’s facility at Tan Duc Industrial Park in Duc Hoa Commune, Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam as a front for the operation.
The firm legitimately produced cosmetics under the Tami brand while allegedly manufacturing counterfeit products bearing the trademarks of brands from countries including Australia and South Korea.
The counterfeit products included facial cleansers, toners, makeup removers and lip balms.
Nguyen Thanh Phuong Tuyen questioned at a police station in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Supplied
The fake cosmetics production was conducted on a large scale using the company’s existing modern machinery and production lines.
Raw materials were mixed and processed before the products were packaged, boxed and fitted with labels.
The finished goods were then distributed to the market through various channels.
Police said the counterfeit products were manufactured using sophisticated methods, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish them from genuine products with the naked eye.
Officers seized nearly 20 million products across 64 counterfeit product codes, as well as over 1,000 metric tons of goods, raw materials, machinery and equipment.
Police inspect a warehouse of cosmetics products. Photo: Supplied
Based on evidence and documents collected during the investigation, the Investigation Police Agency of the Thanh Hoa Department of Public Security has charged seven people with ‘trading in counterfeit goods.’
Police have also issued a decision to prosecute Tuyen on charges of ‘producing and trading in counterfeit cosmetics.’
