Thousands of dental products sold to clinics across Vietnam contain arsenic, police say

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have dismantled a clandestine operation responsible for the illegal manufacturing and nationwide distribution of hazardous dental products containing arsenic. The investigation, which culminated in several arrests on January 28, 2026, has exposed a significant breach in the medical supply chain involving highly toxic substances.

The primary suspect, 50-year-old Vo Thi Thu Oanh, reportedly admitted to purchasing raw chemicals and manually processing them into dental preparations within her private residence. Working from her bedroom, Oanh mixed, blended, and packaged arsenic-based compounds without any safety protocols or industrial oversight. These products were then supplied to Tang Thi My Hoa, 48, who managed the distribution network to dental clinics across Vietnam, while Tang Hoang Vinh, 43, allegedly handled the logistics and delivery.

The operation was uncovered in mid-December 2025 during an inspection of a dental equipment shop in An Dong Ward. Officers seized hundreds of containers of substances labeled "Pâte Nécronerve" and "Arsenic Blue," none of which possessed legal documentation or invoices. Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of arsenic trioxide (white arsenic), a substance strictly regulated due to its extreme toxicity, carcinogenic properties, and potential for causing lethal systemic poisoning if mishandled.

Investigators estimate that since early 2024, the group has successfully sold over 3,000 toxic products to various dental facilities, generating a revenue of approximately VND 1.25 billion ($50,000). Beyond the direct danger to patients who may have been treated with these unverified substances, police emphasized that the primitive manufacturing conditions created a high risk of toxic leakage into the surrounding residential environment.

The Ministry of Public Security noted that the arrests have effectively severed a dangerous supply line of "specially controlled" chemicals into the healthcare sector. All three suspects remain in custody as authorities continue to trace the extent of the distribution and identify clinics that may have unknowingly purchased and used these contaminated preparations.