Hanoi police have prosecuted four women for producing and trading counterfeit food products, including rice.
The suspects are Pham Thi Anh Tuyet, 55, owner of Tuyet Ky Rice Shop in Tay Ho District; Nguyen Thi Binh, 51, owner of Tam Binh Rice Shop in Hoai Duc District; and Le Thi Nhan and Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, both from Hoai Duc District, who are involved in packaging supply.
The women to be prosecuted for for producing and trading counterfeit food products, including rice (Photo by D.T)
On May 14, Hanoi authorities checked Tuyet Ky Rice Shop and found 875 kilos of counterfeit rice labelled Ong Cua Soc Trang Specialty, a brand registered and distributed by Ho Quang Tri Private Enterprise.
Tuyet confessed that she had cooperated with Binh to use cheaper rice and package it in counterfeit bags under the brand of Ho Quang Tri Private Enterprise, the owner of the well-known Ong Cua rice. Le Thi Nhan and Vu Thi Bich Ngoc supplied the fake packaging.
The fake ST25 rice (Photo by D.T)
They produced only on large orders, using heat sealers, bag stitchers, and digital scales to simulate a professional operation.
The two shops sold 17.3 tonnes of rice.
ST25 rice won the title of World's Best Rice at the World's Best Rice Contest in 2019.
