Thanh Hoa Provincial Police said on May 20 they had prosecuted and detained Vu Hong Duong, born in 1993, Tao Thi May, born in 1997, and Vu Thi Yen Mai, born in 1990, on charges of trading counterfeit goods.
The investigation began after police monitoring of online activity uncovered several closed Zalo groups, including “Duong Vu”, “Kho si Duong Vu” and “Mai Vu”, which regularly advertised and sold so called luxury perfumes at unusually low prices.
Investigators later identified the operation as a counterfeit perfume network allegedly headed by siblings Vu Hong Duong and Vu Thi Yen Mai.
Vu Thi Yen Mai, left, and Vu Hong Duong (Photo: Thanh Hoa Police).
According to police, the fake perfumes sold by the group were sourced from overseas and smuggled across the border into Vietnam for distribution.
Authorities said the products were made to closely imitate popular international perfume brands including Chanel, Dior, Gucci and Versace.
From 2025 until their arrest, the suspects allegedly sold around 100,000 counterfeit perfume products with total transactions estimated at approximately VND 200 billion (approximately USD 7.7 million).
During raids, police seized more than 1,500 fake perfume bottles along with equipment and materials used to support online counterfeit trading operations.
Evidence seized in the case (Photo: Thanh Hoa Police).
Expanding the investigation, authorities said the suspects admitted selling counterfeit perfumes to multiple distributors through social media platforms including Zalo and Facebook.
Based on the suspects’ statements, investigators summoned and examined several alleged distributors in HCM City, including Le Thi To Loan, born in 1989, Pham Thi My, born in 1998, and Tran Ngoc Thanh, born in 1994.
Police alleged the group purchased large quantities of fake perfume from accounts linked to Vu Hong Duong and Tao Thi May through social media.
The counterfeit products were reportedly bought for between VND 160,000 and VND 250,000 (approximately USD 6.20-9.60) per item and later resold for VND 1-1.5 million (approximately USD 38.50-57.80) to generate profits.
The Police Investigation Agency has prosecuted Le Thi To Loan, Pham Thi My and Tran Ngoc Thanh on charges of trading counterfeit goods.
