Fake anti-cancer drug manufacturing facility in Kiến An District, Hải Phòng City. — Photo laodong.vn

HẢI PHÒNG — Nguyễn Xuân Thu, general director of Vinaca Limited Company, which produced anti-cancer drugs made from bamboo charcoal powder has been sentenced to 22 years in prison.

The Hải Phòng City’s People’s Court on Thursday also handed a sentence of 17 years in prison to Thu’s accomplice, Nguyễn Văn Tuấn, director of Hồng An Phong Limited Company based in Hải Phòng.

Both faced charges of making fake products.

According to the indictment, since 2012, the two defendants made Vinaca anti-cancer drug Co3.2, anti-osteoarthritis drugs Vinaca Vi3, Vinaca Vi5, Vinaca Vi6, Vinaca Vi7, wine and other cosmetics products from charcoal powder burned from bamboo, papaya, kohlrabi and turmeric.

Tuấn was in charge of burning materials while Thu supplied machinery, devices and instructed Tuấn on mixing ingredients.

The manufacturers poured the powder into capsules to make the drugs.

Thu designed the packaging and advertised the drugs as containing high-valued medicinal ingredients.

The Hải Phòng City’s Health Department granted certificates to seven types of Vinaca medicine.

The court concluded that fake medicine manufacturing is a serious violation and causes losses to patients, especially cancer patients.

Thu and Tuấn were asked to pay compensation of VNĐ50 million (US$2,100) and VNĐ20 million ($851), respectively. — VNS