The Economic Police Division (PC03) of the HCMC Police Department announced Saturday that On Chi Phat and his wife, Nguyen Thanh My, have been charged with “industrial property rights infringements.”
Phat is currently in police custody, while My has been released on bail pending further investigation.
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On Chi Phat (2nd, L) and his wife, Nguyen Thanh My, at a police station in HCMC. Photo by police |
The raid and seizures
In mid-May, authorities inspected Chi Phat LUXURY, the couple’s business on Trieu Quang Phuc Street in Cho Lon Ward.
During the raid, officials discovered a massive inventory of clothing, shoes, handbags, and watches.
These items were suspected of being counterfeits of globally recognized brands protected in Vietnam, such as Burberry, Dior, Hermès, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Rolex.
Police seized nearly 2,000 items with a listed retail value exceeding VND1 billion (US$39,000).
At the time of the inspection, the shop owners were unable to provide invoices or documentation to prove the legal origin of the merchandise.
The Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute later conducted a formal assessment, confirming that 17 categories of the seized items were counterfeit goods infringing upon trademarks protected under Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law.
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Counterfeit luxury watches at the store of Chi Phat LUXURY. Photo by police |
A lucrative online operation
Investigators allege that from early 2021 until their arrest, Phat and his wife sourced counterfeit branded goods through contacts on various social media platforms.
The illicit products were sold at their physical storefront and marketed extensively online via Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok.
Electronic data, bank records, and accounting documents revealed the scale of the business: since early 2024 alone, the couple had generated more than VND4.5 billion ($170,700) in revenue from the operation.
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Clothing and footwear bearing famous luxury brands sold by Chi Phat LUXURY. Photo by police |
Authorities are expanding their investigation to identify other individuals involved in the chain.
This recent bust is part of a broader 45-day security campaign ordered by the city police chief to combat crimes in the municipal area.
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