Hanoi, Vietnam – Authorities have successfully apprehended four suspects involved in a sophisticated food fraud operation, accused of injecting chemicals into buffalo meat to falsely market it as premium Japanese Wagyu beef. The arrests, carried out by the Hanoi Economic Police on October 14, mark a significant step in combating counterfeit food products in the Vietnamese market.
The investigation targets cases of producing and selling fraudulent food items. Among those implicated are Mr. Chin Hang Phoek, identified as the Director of SK FOODS VIET NAM, and three other accomplices. It is alleged that Mr. Phoek collaborated with Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, who owns Hida, to execute this elaborate scheme.
According to police findings, the fraudulent enterprise involved purchasing low-quality buffalo meat, primarily imported from India, at an approximate cost of 120,000 VND (about $4.8 USD) per kilogram. To mimic the distinctive marbling and texture of authentic Wagyu beef, chemicals were then injected into the buffalo meat to create artificial fat fibers. This chemically altered meat was subsequently packaged and misleadingly labeled as Wagyu beef. The fake product was then distributed and sold in the market at significantly inflated prices, ranging from 400,000 VND to 600,000 VND (approximately $16 to $24 USD) per kilogram, generating substantial illicit profits.
Police investigations reveal that from May 2024 until their recent arrest, the group successfully produced and distributed an estimated 14 tons of this counterfeit Wagyu beef. The network’s reach extended across multiple major Vietnamese cities, including Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City, indicating a widespread operation impacting consumers nationwide. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the fraud and bring all responsible parties to justice.
