Vietnam arrests senior livestock official in $43 billion seafood smuggling ring

Lưu Văn Ba Sỹ Hưng Seafood seafood smuggling bribery Hải Phòng

The Hải Phòng Economic Police have detained Lưu Văn Ba, head of the sub‑department of livestock and veterinary services (region I) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, together with five subordinate officials. They are accused of receiving bribes to bypass mandatory quarantine inspections for large shipments of live seafood imported from China through the Lao Cai and Lạng Sơn border gates. The illegal operation, linked to Sỹ Hưng Seafood Co. Ltd., involved goods valued at roughly 1 000 trillion VND (about US$43 billion).

Eighteen suspects have been charged across three cases for smuggling, illegal cross‑border transport, falsifying documents, and both giving and receiving bribes. The company’s director, Nguyễn Thị Thư, faces charges of smuggling, document fraud and bribery. Police have seized the company’s official seals. The investigation, coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security, uncovered a sophisticated network that circumvented inspection procedures, allowing the imported seafood to be sold quickly after arrival.

Entities: Hai Phong City Police · Hai Phòng Police · Hanoi People's Court · Hải Phòng Economic Police · Khánh Hòa Police · Lưu Văn Ba · Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development · Nguyen Công Thành · Nguyễn Năng Mạnh · Nguyễn Thị Thu · Sỹ Hưng Seafood Co. · Sỹ Hưng Seafood Co. Ltd.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 5 SOURCES] Eighteen suspects have been charged across three cases for five offenses: smuggling, illegal cross‑border transport, falsifying documents, and both giving and receiving bribes. (Police press release)
[● 3 SOURCES] Officials were bribed to bypass mandatory 1‑3‑day quarantine inspections for the imported seafood. (Police findings)
[● 3 SOURCES] The smuggling network involved seafood worth about 1 000 trillion VND. (Police estimate)
[● 4 SOURCES] Six officials, including Lưu Văn Ba, were charged with receiving bribes. (Police statement)
[● 4 SOURCES] The company imported large quantities of live seafood from China via the Lao Cai and Lạng Sơn border gates. (Investigation report)
[● 3 SOURCES] Lưu Văn Ba, head of the sub‑department of livestock and veterinary region I, was arrested and detained. (Police action)
[● 4 SOURCES] Police seized company seals belonging to Sỹ Hưng Seafood Co. (Police seizure report)
[● 4 SOURCES] Nguyễn Thị Thư, director of Sỹ Hưng Seafood Co., was charged with smuggling, falsifying documents and bribery. (Police statement)
[● 2 SOURCES] The smuggling operation involved seafood worth about 1 000 trillion VND. (Police estimate)
[● 3 SOURCES] Lưu Văn Ba, head of the sub‑department of livestock and veterinary services (region I), was detained for receiving bribes. (Police statement)