General manager detained in major Vietnam vape counterfeiting case

The police in the New Binh District of Ho Chi Minh City have urgently detained a Vietnamese man, Nguyen Minh Khanh, for suspected production and sale of counterfeit goods.

According to reports from Vietnamese media thuonghieucongluan on October 10, the police in New Binh District of Ho Chi Minh City have detained the general manager of HAPIAN Company, Nguyen Minh Khanh, for suspected production and operation of counterfeit goods.

Nguyen Minh Khanh｜Image source: thuonghieucongluan 

Earlier this month, the police in Ho Chi Minh City dismantled a smuggling network of HAPIAN Limited Liability Company. After searching three locations related to the company, including warehouses and offices, the police seized a large amount of criminal evidence, including over 5,600 boxes of electronic cigarette e-liquids (100 bottles per box of 30ml, 50 bottles per box of 100ml), over 200 boxes of various finished and semi-finished health products, more than 2,600 electronic cigarette devices, a large amount of machinery, documents, etc. The total value of these goods is estimated to exceed 700 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately 20.9 million yuan).

Preliminary investigations show that Nguyen Minh Khanh was appointed to represent Nguyen Thi Kim Ha as the general manager of HAPIAN Company and ??t Th?ng Company, responsible for the production and sale of e-liquids for electronic cigarettes. Specifically, these two companies imported unlicensed e-liquids, then purchased genuine labels claiming "Made in USA" and had employees affix the labels and stamp expiration dates. Nguyen Minh Khanh was responsible for selling this batch of e-liquids and distributing them to the market.

Based on preliminary investigation results, the police in New Binh District have urgently detained Nguyen Minh Khanh and have summoned and interrogated several related personnel. The case is currently under further investigation.