Ho Chi Minh City police have warned that counterfeit cosmetics remain a direct public health risk after authorities moved against a large-scale fake beauty production and distribution ring. Police said on March 20 that five suspects had been charged in the case after approvals from local prosecutors.
Seizure and Production Network
According to the police, investigators seized more than 10,000 products carrying labels including OLAY, ABUTINE C3C, Bạch Ngọc Liên and Vaseline, with packaging marked “made in USA” or “made in Thailand” to mislead buyers. Authorities said the products had no documentation proving origin.
Police said the operation linked a “mixed cream” production site in Tân To ward with a raw materials supplier, Hikachi Pharmaceutical-Cosmetics Manufacturing Co. Investigators also said hundreds of kilograms of chemicals, base cream, labels, and unfinished packaging were found at the sites. Production took place in rudimentary and unhygienic conditions.
Health and Market Warning
The police said many consumers struggle to identify low-quality counterfeit cosmetics, while mixed creams and products with unclear ingredients can cause skin irritation, dermatitis, and longer-term damage. Authorities also said the network used social media claims such as “rapid whitening” and “instant results” to drive sales.
For the beauty trade, the case points to a wider enforcement and trust issue in Vietnam’s cosmetics market. Authorities said the investigation is continuing as they work to identify other participants and urged consumers to choose products with clear origin and verified quality controls.
