Vietnam authorities crack down on food safety and smuggling violations

Authorities in Vietnam are intensifying crackdowns on various forms of illegal trade and food safety violations. In Quang Ninh, police intercepted nearly 1.5 tons of bean sprouts containing banned substances. In Hanoi, investigators dismantled a major ring involving the illegal production and sale of counterfeit cosmetic fillers and Botox, seizing approximately 123,000 products valued at over 74 billion VND.

Customs reports indicate a significant rise in violations during the third quarter of 2026, with over 5,600 cases detected involving goods worth over 8,070 billion VND. These violations include smuggling ivory and large cat bones, tax evasion, and the transport of narcotics and counterfeit goods across land and sea borders.

Separately, the snack brand ‘Ăn Cùng Bà Tuyết’ addressed reports from Japan regarding the seizure and destruction of its meat products at an Asian food store in Ibaraki Prefecture. The company clarified that it has not authorized any exports or distribution in the Japanese market, suggesting the products may have been imported via international mail by unauthorized parties.