Vietnamese couple caught producing 20 tonnes of fake coffee from soybeans and additives
A husband and wife duo have been charged in Dak Lak for manufacturing fake coffee using roasted soybean powder, colouring agents and flavour enhancers, with over 20 tonnes distributed across multiple provinces.
The police of Central Highlands province, Dak Lak, on Saturday announced they have officially launched legal proceedings against a married couple for producing and trading counterfeit coffee.
Over 20 tonnes of the fake product, made primarily from soybean powder and chemical additives, had already made its way to market before authorities intervened.
Phan Danh Duong Bao, 52 years old, a resident of Ninh Xuan Commune, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province, has been detained for “producing and trading counterfeit goods” in the form of ground coffee. His wife, Ho Thuy Bich Dan, 47 years old, has also been indicted but is currently under house arrest and banned from leaving her locality.
According to initial findings, on May 22, the provincial economic police caught Bao and his son delivering 120kg of ground coffee – packaged in unlabelled silver plastic bags – to a woman in Thanh Cong Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City. Bao failed to produce any documents on the origin of the goods.
Following the seizure, police summoned those involved and conducted an urgent search of the couple’s manufacturing site in Khanh Hoa. The raid uncovered various machines and equipment used to roast and package the counterfeit coffee, along with two tonnes of raw materials – including soybeans, sugar, colouring agents, and flavourings – as well as 1,604 bags of finished coffee weighing nearly one tonne.
Under questioning, the couple admitted to purchasing the machinery and ingredients to manufacture fake coffee. They revealed that only 3 to 9kg of actual coffee beans were used per 100kg of product. The rest consisted of roasted soybeans and chemical additives for colour and aroma.
From 2024 to the present, the couple allegedly produced more than 20 tonnes of fake ground coffee, distributing it to several provinces, including Binh Dinh, Lam Dong, and Dak Lak.
Police have warned that the counterfeit coffee, mainly composed of burnt soybeans mixed with colourants and flavouring agents, poses serious health risks. Prolonged consumption may irritate the digestive tract, damage the liver and kidneys, and increase the risk of cancer.
Investigations into the case are ongoing.
Viet Nam News
Asia News Network
