Fake Covid drugs land pharmaceutics director in jail

Pham Ngoc Bich, director of a pharmaceutical company, has been accused of producing fake Covid-19 medication in his Long An province-based factory.

On June 10, HCMC's Economic Police detained Bich and six others to investigate violations related to the production of fake medications.

Amtex Pharma JSC, located in Ben Luc district, is equipped with advanced mechanics and production lines. The 10,000 square-meter factory was licensed to make and sell medicines of all kinds.

According to the investigative agency, Bich started producing fake drugs due to a higher demand for imported medicines supporting Covid-19 treatment.

To avoid detection, Bich set up a separate area for raw material production in his factory, with drugs subsequently packaged and branded Neo-Codion elsewhere.

Following investigation, Bich and another culprit were eventually caught transporting 12 boxes with 20,000 blisters of Neo-Codion medication from Long An to neighboring HCMC on Thursday afternoon. Initial inspection showed all drugs were fake.

Bich's packing and production facilities in Long An's Ben Luc and Thu Thua districts, along with a slew of other warehouses were raided shortly after. About a million phony pills were confiscated, and dozens of production lines shut down.

The case is under further investigation.