CaliToday (04/11/2025): Authorities in Gia Lai province have dismantled a large-scale food fraud operation, accusing a company director of knowingly producing and selling fake coffee blended with soybeans and chemicals to deceive consumers.
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| Nguyen Van Hanh was prosecuted and temporarily detained by the authorities. Photo: Gia Lai Provincial People's Procuracy |
GIA LAI, VIETNAM – In a major crackdown on food fraud, authorities in Vietnam's Central Highlands have arrested a company director after discovering a sophisticated operation that allegedly produced and prepared to sell nearly 4.4 tons (4,400 kg) of counterfeit coffee.
The Gia Lai Provincial People's Procuracy confirmed on November 4 that it had approved the prosecution and arrest of two individuals for their roles in the scheme.
The primary suspect is Vo Minh Tung (47), the Director of Nguyen Phat Gia Lai Co., Ltd. Also arrested was an employee, Nguyen Van Hanh (38). Both men are facing serious criminal charges under Article 193 of Vietnam's Criminal Code for "producing and trading counterfeit food, foodstuffs, and food additives."
A Factory for Fraud
The raid on the company's premises exposed the staggering scale of the illicit operation. Instead of processing genuine Vietnamese coffee, the facility was allegedly dedicated to creating a fraudulent mixture designed to mimic the real product for illicit profit.
During the search, authorities seized a massive cache of materials and equipment, painting a clear picture of the business model. The evidence included:
Finished "Fake" Coffee: Nearly 4.4 tons of the finished counterfeit product. Of this, 377 kg was already packaged and ready for distribution to unsuspecting consumers.
The Primary Adulterant: Over 4.3 tons (4,300 kg) of raw soybean kernels, which investigators believe was the main ingredient used to bulk out the product.
Real Coffee (for mixing): Over 840 kg of roasted coffee beans, likely used in small quantities to provide some legitimate coffee flavor and aroma.
Other Additives: A large quantity of various unspecified flavorings and chemical additives used to complete the deception.
Operational Assets: Two 2.5-ton cargo trucks, two 4-seater cars, three coffee processing machines, computers, and extensive accounting books and warehouse receipts.
Cash: Over 400 million VND (approx. $15,700 USD) in cash was also seized at the scene.
A Known Health Risk
Forensic analysis of the seized products confirmed the authorities' suspicions: the "coffee" was officially classified as counterfeit food with a very low caffeine content, posing a significant and direct health risk to consumers.
According to the procuracy, Vo Minh Tung was fully aware that the product his company was creating was a fake. He allegedly directed Nguyen Van Hanh to systematically produce and process the fraudulent blend. The motive, authorities state, was simply to sell the dangerous mixture on the open market to gain illicit profits.
The arrests have stopped a major counterfeit operation, but the investigation is ongoing to determine how long this business was active and how far its distribution network reached.