Pham Vu Khiem, Director of Herbitech Technology Co., Ltd., is the alleged ringleader of a large-scale health supplement counterfeiting operation. Two fake products specifically aimed at children, including infants, have been identified: BABY SHARK and Medi Kid Calcium K2.

On April 25, the Investigation Agency Office under the Ministry of Public Security announced it is currently investigating a ring producing counterfeit health supplements, using falsified test result documents to bring products to market. Notably, this ring deliberately targeted nutritional supplements for children, including newborns.

According to the investigation, Pham Vu Khiem, Director of Herbitech Technology Co., Ltd., located in Phu Lo commune, Soc Son district, Hanoi, led the operation. His company was behind the counterfeit production of BABY SHARK and Medi Kid Calcium K2 - products falsely advertised as imported from France, Germany, and the United States.

The company reportedly produced and processed over 200 products, with a total market value estimated in the hundreds of billions of VND (equivalent to millions of USD), yet without proper quality control. Despite bold claims of foreign origin and premium ingredients, the actual quality and cost did not align with the advertised specifications.

During preliminary questioning, Pham Vu Khiem admitted to falsifying product compliance results by altering test outcomes from “non-compliant” to “compliant” before releasing the products into the market.

Major Nguyen Van Thanh, an officer from the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Office, stated that the counterfeit operation was highly responsive to market demand, producing a wide range of fake products accordingly.

To get these fake supplements into circulation, the group sent product samples for testing to authorized labs. When results did not meet declared specifications, the suspects allegedly colluded with testing companies to alter the reports - or in some cases, forged the entire testing documentation.

Earlier, the Ministry of Public Security also dismantled a separate, large-scale counterfeit powdered milk operation based in Hanoi and neighboring provinces.

Preliminary findings reveal that since August 2021, suspects established two companies - Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical JSC and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical JSC - to manufacture and sell fake powdered milk products.

These companies produced 573 different powdered milk labels targeting individuals with diabetes, kidney failure, premature infants, and pregnant women. The packaging claimed to contain premium ingredients such as bird’s nest extract, cordyceps, macadamia, and walnut powder. In reality, these ingredients were entirely absent.

Investigators confirmed that the ring substituted and supplemented raw ingredients with alternative additives. The fake milk products had nutritional indicators measuring less than 70% of what was advertised, qualifying them as counterfeit goods under Vietnamese law.

T. Nhung