Investigators said ABF Food Import-Export JSC imported 339 containers of chicken feet between 2023 and 2026 under a processing-for-export scheme, with the shipments valued at more than VND 347 billion (USD 13.3 million).
The company was allegedly directed by Nguyen Thi To Loan, born in 1979, who also serves as director of An Binh Import-Export and Trade Development JSC under An Binh Group.
According to police, instead of processing and re-exporting the products as declared, Loan instructed employee Trang Tuyet Ngoc to sell more than 10,000 tonnes of imported chicken feet on the domestic market without paying the required taxes.
Investigators said some of the products originated from countries affected by avian influenza and were distributed in Hanoi and several northern provinces.
During searches of cold-storage facilities linked to the case, authorities seized more than 2,000 tonnes of chicken feet.
At a warehouse in Hanoi's Quang Minh Industrial Park, investigators found more than 1,000 tonnes of chicken feet, including 260 tonnes of expired frozen products covered in mould and emitting a foul odour.
Another 1,030 tonnes were discovered at a cold-storage facility in Lang Son Province.
On June 4, Hanoi police launched criminal proceedings and charged Loan and Ngoc with smuggling under Vietnam's Penal Code.
Both suspects have admitted to the alleged offences during questioning, police said, adding that the investigation is continuing.
