Diseased pork secretly sold across Hanoi markets and restaurants, police reveal

Four men Le Van Tuoi, Dang Van Huy, Nguyen Viet Chiem and Du Dinh Hoi have been arrested for violating food safety laws. Emergency arrest orders were issued earlier this month.

 

 

Diseased pork secretly sold across Hanoi markets and restaurants, police reveal

Hàng tấn thịt lợn bệnh tuồn vào nhà hàng, quán ăn ở Hà Nội

Police launched an investigation after public tip-offs and discovered illegal slaughterhouses operating between midnight and 3 a.m. in Dan Nhiem, Du Xa and Dang Giang villages, as well as Phung Khoang Market. Lookouts were stationed to evade detection.

On June 30 and July 1, an interagency task force raided a slaughterhouse run by Tuoi and Nguyen Thi Thu in Dan Nhiem Village. Officers seized 45 sick pigs, 1,050 kg of butchered pork and 450 kg of internal organs, totaling 4.3 tons that could have been sold for nearly VND320 million (US$12,500).

Since 2023, the group had been buying sick or dying pigs from brokers in Ba Vi, Ung Hoa, My Duc and Hoa Binh, slaughtering them at home without licenses. They processed around 50 pigs daily, selling pork at VND55,000–60,000 per kg to vendors, wholesale markets like Phia Nam, Minh Khai and Phung Khoang, and then to restaurants and budget eateries citywide.

Nguyen Thi Thu at a police station. Photo courtesy of Hanoi police

With diseased pigs costing only VND35,000–40,000 per kg live weight, they pocketed illegal profits of VND70–80 million each month.

At Phung Khoang Market, nearly 1 ton of uninspected pork was found at kiosks run by Hoi, Chiem, Truong Manh Kien and Nguyen Dinh Thao. The meat was butchered and sold to other stalls for VND40,000 per kg, then resold to eateries and individuals for up to VND70,000 per kg.

Vendors admitted buying dead pigs for as little as VND20,000 per kg, slaughtering them at home and trucking the meat to markets.

Tests confirmed the pork was infected with African swine fever, a dangerous virus requiring infected meat to be destroyed and banned from consumption.

 

 

Diseased pork secretly sold across Hanoi markets and restaurants, police reveal

Hàng tấn thịt lợn bệnh tuồn vào nhà hàng, quán ăn ở Hà Nội

Police called the case "serious, showing blatant disregard for public health." The investigation is expanding to track the entire distribution network.

Authorities urged residents to buy pork only with veterinary inspection stamps and clear origins, and to report illegal slaughtering or unsafe food sales to protect community health.