130,000 smuggled Covid test kits, drugs seized in HCMC

By Quoc Thang March 10, 2022 | 10:43 pm PT

Boxes of the Lianhua Qingwen Covid-19 drug are sealed away by the police in HCMC's Binh Tan District, March 10, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy

Over 56,000 Covid-19 test kits and 76,000 Covid-19 pills of unknown origins were seized by authorities in Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Tan District on Thursday.

Police raided an ADN Care warehouse, represented by 39-year-old Nguyen Thanh Thao, and found many Covid-19 test kits and the Lianhua Qingwen Covid-19 drug featuring Chinese characters.

Thao failed to present relevant documents to prove the products' origins, which are worth around VND4 billion ($174,900). However, he said they were bought from a Cambodian acquaintance on Facebook. Thao transferred the acquaintance the money via online banking before receiving the goods in Binh Tan District.

Thao said his company also manufactures products like masks and alcohol for disinfection without a license.

An investigation is ongoing.