Dong Nai busts network selling 65 tonnes of fake dried beef

Dong Nai City police said on August 18 that the operation was allegedly led by Le Van Tinh, 45, director of Tran Le Foods Co Ltd.

Investigators have prosecuted and detained three other suspects: Nguyen Dinh Hung, 40, from Danang; Pham Thi Kim Loan, 24, from Dong Nai City; and Nguyen Thi Thuy, 37, from Dong Nai City. They are being investigated for producing and selling counterfeit food products.

Police seized more than two tonnes of dried meat suspected of being falsely marketed as dried beef, along with ingredients, additives, machinery and other production equipment.

Investigators said Tinh regularly sold the dried products to Thuy, owner of Moc Food Bien Hoa, as well as grocery stores in Dong Nai City and other provinces and cities.

Thuy allegedly promoted and sold the products to customers through livestreams and e-commerce platforms.

On August 5, investigators simultaneously inspected Tran Le Foods and Moc Food Bien Hoa.

At Tran Le Foods, authorities seized about 400kg of raw buffalo meat being processed, more than 1.6 tonnes of finished dried meat suspected to be buffalo meat marketed as beef, nearly 1.4 tonnes of seasonings, flavourings and additives, as well as machinery and equipment used to produce dried meat.

Testing confirmed that more than 1.6 tonnes of the dried meat was buffalo meat that Tinh had processed and sold as dried beef. The products were valued at nearly VND 528 million (USD 19,900).

At Moc Food Bien Hoa, authorities seized nearly 455kg of dried meat suspected of being buffalo meat marketed as beef, along with production equipment.

Testing showed that nearly 430kg was buffalo meat that Thuy had sold under the dried beef label. The products were valued at nearly VND 231 million (USD 8,720).

Police said Tran Le Foods had been licensed to process and produce dried beef and buffalo meat.

From May 2025 until the operation was uncovered, Tran Le Foods bought about 130 tonnes of frozen buffalo meat sourced from India from a company in Ho Chi Minh City for nearly VND 18 billion (USD 679,000).

The company also purchased additives, cardboard boxes, PE plastic bags, product labels and ingredients including chilli, lemongrass, garlic, malt and monosodium glutamate from businesses and individuals in Ho Chi Minh City.

Using these materials, Tinh allegedly organised the production of about 65 tonnes of fake dried beef. The products were sold for an average of VND 330,000 (USD 12.50) per kilogramme, generating estimated revenue of about VND 21 billion (USD 792,000).

Police said Loan and Hung allegedly assisted Tinh in the operation.

Dong Nai City police are continuing to investigate the case.