More than 185,000 counterfeit textbooks, along with printing and transportation equipment worth an estimated USD 590,000, have been seized by Bac Ninh provincial police in coordination with relevant agencies.
On August 6, the Investigation Security Agency of Bac Ninh Police announced it had launched criminal proceedings and detained three key suspects in a large-scale, interprovincial operation producing and distributing counterfeit school textbooks. The bust comes as part of a broader crackdown ahead of the new academic year.
During the investigation and searches, authorities confiscated over 185,000 counterfeit textbooks - mostly English-language materials - with a total estimated value exceeding USD 315,000. Numerous printing machines, materials, and transport equipment were also seized, bringing the total estimated value of the confiscated assets to around USD 590,000.
Major counterfeit printing and distribution network dismantled
Several types of counterfeit textbooks seized from the illegal operation.
Authorities found that the group’s operations extended beyond Bac Ninh to Hanoi. The Internal Political Security Division, in coordination with Bac Ninh Police's Investigation Security Division, the Ministry of Public Security’s Internal Political Security Department, and other relevant agencies, initiated a joint investigation into the case.
Between July 29 and August 3, police conducted urgent raids on eight locations across Bac Ninh and Hanoi, summoning 12 individuals for questioning. During the search of printing facilities, storage warehouses, and bookstores, police discovered 2,300 cartons containing more than 185,000 counterfeit English textbooks.
Confiscated items included 27 zinc plates used for printing, one color printer, two transport trucks, and a large volume of printing supplies and equipment. All items were sealed for further investigation, with total value estimated at USD 590,000.
Initial findings identified Ngo Thi Phuong Lan (born 1976, Hanoi), director of Northern Printing Technology Investment Co., Ltd., as the ringleader behind the operation. She is accused of overseeing large-scale illegal printing of counterfeit schoolbooks.
The counterfeit books were then distributed by Nguyen Thi Tuyen (born 1989), owner of Hang Thang Bookstore, and Ta Ngoc Long (born 1998), owner of Phu Thinh Bookstore - both based in Bac Ninh Province. The duo allegedly sold the fake textbooks to numerous retailers and schools in Bac Ninh and Hanoi.
The Bac Ninh Investigation Security Agency has formally charged, arrested, and placed Lan, Tuyen, and Long in temporary detention for investigation on charges of “Producing and trading counterfeit goods.”
Sophisticated tactics with severe consequences
Officers from the Internal Political Security Division examine seized evidence.Counterfeit textbook production facility uncovered in Hanoi.
Police said the suspects operated as a structured organization using sophisticated methods, masking their activities under a legal business facade. The production sites were hidden in remote, hard-to-access locations to avoid detection. Distribution relied heavily on social media and unofficial sales channels, with prices 20-30% lower than genuine textbooks.
Notably, the fake books closely mimicked the appearance, color, and labeling of genuine textbooks, making it difficult for buyers to tell the difference. However, the quality was substandard, with printing errors, missing pages, and inaccuracies that could seriously hinder students’ learning and academic performance.
Colonel Bui Chien Thang, Deputy Director of Bac Ninh Provincial Police, stated: “The production and sale of counterfeit textbooks is not only illegal but has long-term consequences, directly impacting students’ academic outcomes and the reputation of the education system. The police will continue to step up inspections and strictly punish violations to protect the integrity of the education sector.”
Vietnamnet.vn
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