On October 5, Ho Chi Minh City police said they had opened a case and detained nine suspects over food-safety violations, trading banned goods, giving bribes and receiving bribes.
How the pigs were found
At the end of July, police and the city's Department of Agriculture and Environment inspected three trucks linked to Nguyen Van Hieu and Pham Van Hung. They found 280 pigs positive for salbutamol; 80 also tested positive for African swine fever virus. Searches at 14 sites in Dong Nai found 3,909 pigs weighing more than 500 tonnes at seven sites. The pigs were destroyed.
Police said Nguyen Thi Trinh Nu supplied the substance from Thailand and Cambodia from mid-2025 for VND375,000 per kilogram. It was mixed into feed at 100 grams for 300 kilograms of feed for 100 pigs. Pigs weighing 100–110 kilograms were fattened for about 30 days until they reached 130–140 kilograms. Use stopped about 10 days before sale, while liver-detoxification medicine or Bio electrolytes were given to reduce residues during testing.
Investigation alleges bribes to an inspector
Investigators said veterinary inspector Vo Quoc Son accepted money from Nguyen Van Hieu and signed transport documents without inspecting shipments. The group also allegedly forged animal-origin documents. Police said more than 10,000 tonnes had reached markets since January 2026, with a value above VND600 billion and several billion dong in illegal profits. Seven suspects face food-safety charges; others face charges involving banned goods and bribery. The investigation continues.
Salbutamol is listed among substances banned in animal feed under Appendix V of Circular No. 21/2019/TT-BNNPTNT, dated November 28, 2019. Police warned that residues can cause irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, bronchial spasms, swelling, muscle tremors, paralysis and dizziness.
Sources: Dân Trí, Công an Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, VietnamNet
