Authorities seal counterfeit luxury-brand sandals at Thanh Duong Luxury in Tan An Ward, Can Tho City, southern Vietnam in this handout photo supplied by the city’s police department.
At Thanh Duong Luxury, a store in Tan An Ward operated by Huynh Phuong Duy, 33, authorities found four workers directly involved in producing counterfeit sandals carrying the trademarks of major luxury brands.
During the inspection, officers seized more than 1,200 pairs of finished sandals along with soles, straps, size stamps, cutting molds, pressing machines, engraving tools, and business records.
Duy admitted that the counterfeit manufacturing and sales operation had been active since March last year.
She managed all aspects of the business, from production to sales, while her younger brother was responsible for sourcing raw materials, purchasing machinery, and recruiting workers.
The operation relied largely on relatives and close acquaintances as laborers.
To avoid detection, each worker was assigned only a single step of the manufacturing process.
The counterfeit products were promoted through social media platforms including Zalo, TikTok, and Facebook.
The fake sandals were reportedly sold for between VND600,000 (US$23) and VND2.2 million ($84) per pair, depending on the model.
Authorities estimate the value of the seized goods, machinery, and production materials at around VND18 billion ($683,000).
Police officers and market surveillance officials count counterfeit designer clothing and accessories seized at Thanh Hien Luxury in Cai Khe Ward, Can Tho City, southern Vietnam in this handout photo supplied by the city’s police department.
In a separate case, police inspected Thanh Hien Luxury, a store in Cai Khe Ward operated by Huynh Thanh Hien, 24.
Officers confiscated more than 3,000 counterfeit fashion items, including clothing, handbags, and hats bearing the trademarks of luxury brands such as Hermès, Gucci, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Dior.
The seized merchandise is estimated to be worth approximately VND14 billion ($531,000).
Hien admitted purchasing the goods from unofficial sources and failed to provide invoices proving their origin.
He promoted these products on social media and e-commerce platforms including Zalo, TikTok, Facebook, and Shopee to reach consumers.
