Selling fake pesticides, 2 defendants get 20 years in prison

On March 21, the People's Court of Bac Lieu province opened the first instance trial of the criminal case against defendants Nguyen Van Nho (39 years old, residing in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province) and Tran Quoc Huan (44 years old, residing in Hung Thanh commune, Vinh Loi district) and sentenced each defendant to 10 years in prison for the crime of "Producing and trading in counterfeit plant protection drugs".

The two defendants Nguyen Van Nho and Tran Quoc Huan at the trial on March 21.

According to the indictment, at 11:30 a.m. on December 23, 2023, at the pesticide business establishment of defendant Tran Quoc Huan (Hung Thanh commune), the Investigation Police Agency of Bac Lieu Provincial Police caught Tran Quoc Huan red-handed arranging pesticides of unknown origin and origin into carton boxes, labeled, and taped with the trademarks "Syngenta" and "Bayer". The authorities seized 2,458 bottles and packages of pesticides bearing the trademarks of Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd., Bayer Vietnam Co., Ltd. and related labels, carton boxes, books, and documents sealed in 44 carton boxes. Through investigation, it was determined that Tran Quoc Huan purchased the above pesticides from Nguyen Van Nho, and the method of transporting the goods was that Nho sent them to the "Tu Nghien" shipping company (National Highway 1A, Ward 8, Bac Lieu City). After receiving the goods, Huan brought them back to hide at his business (Huan's private home), then Huan would take them out and stick the "Syngenta" and "Bayer" labels (attached by defendant Huan) on carton boxes similar to finished plant protection products of Syngenta and Bayer Vietnam Co., Ltd. to sell to people in need.

The conclusion of the appraisal and asset valuation determined that the number of plant protection drugs were counterfeit in terms of label and quality of Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Bayer Vietnam Co., Ltd., a total of 2,357 products, with a value equivalent to genuine goods of more than 513 million VND.

The investigation results also determined that since June 2022, through social networks, the two defendants Tran Quoc Huan and Nguyen Van Nho contacted to agree and exchange the purchase and sale of fake pesticides, pesticide products of Syngenta Vietnam Company Limited (brands Amistar TopR, FiliaR, ReflectR Xtra, IncipioR, AnvilR, Tilt SuperR, SelecronR) and Bayer Vietnam Company Limited (brands NativoR and AntracolR), at prices lower than market prices. The origin of the pesticides and cartons, labels, tapes... that defendant Nho admitted to ordering on social networking sites (the identity and background of the seller are unknown) were bottled, packaged and labeled but had not been boxed and taped with the brand of each product according to regulations on the production of genuine goods. Only when delivered to defendant Huan to bring back to his facility were they boxed and taped with the brand according to regulations and put on the market.

The Provincial People's Court determined that the criminal acts of the defendants Nguyen Van Nho and Tran Quoc Huan were very dangerous to society, not only violating the State's regulations on market management, violating the protection of trademarks, but also infringing on the interests of consumers when buying counterfeit goods. It is worth noting that this is also a type of pesticide, which affects farmers' crop productivity when buying counterfeit drugs.

News and photos: Kim Phuong

Source: https://www.baobaclieu.vn/tin-tuc/ban-thuoc-bao-ve-thuc-vat-gia-2-bi-cao-lanh-20-nam-tu-99835.html