Hơn 3,2 triệu bình chữa cháy giả đã bán ra thị trường | VTV24

Key Concepts:

• Fake Fire Extinguishers: Production and distribution of fire extinguishers that are ineffective and do not meet quality standards.
• Material Sourcing: Use of substandard fire extinguishing powder, allegedly imported from China.
• Cost Reduction & Market Competition: Lowering production costs by using fake materials to gain a competitive advantage and higher profits.
• Compromised Quality Control: Collusion with inspection companies to falsify quality inspection certificates and allow substandard products onto the market.
• Public Safety Risk: The severe danger posed to citizens by the distribution of ineffective fire safety equipment.
• Bribery and Collusion: The involvement of bribery and illicit agreements between manufacturers and inspection bodies.

Summary:

Warehousing and Distribution Network

The investigation uncovered a significant distribution network for fake fire extinguishers, with one of the company's seven warehouses located in the Thạch Thất Quốc Oai Industrial Zone in Tây Phương commune, Hanoi. This facility, along with two other warehouses in Hanoi, serves as a distribution hub for the entire city.

Manufacturing Process and Substandard Materials

At the production facility in Tây Ninh province, the final stages of manufacturing for these fake fire extinguishers were observed. The company has been operating since 2018 and began producing and releasing these counterfeit products into the market. The primary fire extinguishing powder used in these units was reportedly imported from China.

Economic Motivation and Safety Neglect

According to investigation findings, the use of substandard raw materials reduces the production cost of each fire extinguisher by 25% to 30%. This cost reduction allows the company to compete with other brands and achieve higher profits. The transcript explicitly states that the perpetrators disregarded public safety in their pursuit of profit.

Deceptive Appearance and Lack of Efficacy

Despite having a significant market share in Vietnam, the fire extinguishers produced by this company are fundamentally incapable of extinguishing fires. While the bình chữa cháy (fire extinguisher) units are equipped with quality inspection labels and origin traceability codes, these are all falsified. The composition of the fire extinguishing powder listed on the bình chữa cháy is absent in reality, rendering the usage instructions on the bình chữa cháy useless.

Management's Awareness and Intent

A representative from the company admitted that the company's leadership was aware that these bình chữa cháy were ineffective in the event of a fire. They proceeded with their distribution strategy to compete with other brands. The representative stated, "Lưu thông ra ngoài nó nó không tốt. Nó không tốt bởi vì nó sẽ làm tức là nó sẽ làm người ta không còn cái khả năng để cái giải quyết cái chữa cháy ban đầu ạ. Ví dụ như ví dụ như những cái đám cháy nhỏ thì không sao nhưng khi nó vùng vát lên á thì nó sẽ không kịp. Tôi biết những cái đấy mà tôi biết cái hành động ấy là không tốt rồi." (Circulating it is not good. It's not good because it will make people lose the ability to solve the initial fire. For example, small fires are okay, but when they escalate, it will be too late. I know that and I know that action is not good.)

Real-World Consequences and Public Impact

The Hanoi Police Department reported that in numerous fire incidents, citizens stated they used these fire extinguishers during the critical initial firefighting period but were unable to extinguish the flames. Further investigation revealed that these specific brands of fire extinguishers were counterfeit and ineffective. Many government offices, public buildings, and residential homes in Hanoi were found to be using these dangerous products.

Collusion and Bribery in Quality Control

The company allegedly bribed and colluded with an inspection company to facilitate the release of these substandard products into the market. The transcript highlights a systemic issue: "Các doanh nghiệp được nhà nước cấp phép để kiểm định và các doanh nghiệp để sản xuất bình chữa cháy, thiết bị chữa cháy trên địa bàn là có sự thông đồng móc ngoặc với nhau và trong quá trình đấy thì có sự thỏa thuận và thỏa thuận làm không đúng quy trình thực hiện sai thực hiện tắt các quy trình kiểm định để dẫn đến cái việc là sai kết quả kiểm định các bình chợ cháy và các thịa chữ cháy không đảm bảo lưu thông trên thị trường." (Businesses licensed by the state for inspection and businesses for producing fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment in the area have colluded and conspired with each other, and during that process, there were agreements and understandings to not follow the correct procedures, to perform incorrectly, to skip inspection procedures, leading to incorrect inspection results for fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment that are not guaranteed to circulate in the market.)

Ongoing Investigation

In addition to the implicated quality inspection company, law enforcement is also investigating the responsibility of the agencies that received and approved the company's inspection dossiers.

Conclusion

This case exposes a grave threat to public safety stemming from the deliberate production and distribution of fake fire extinguishers. The company prioritized profit over safety by using substandard materials and engaging in widespread corruption with inspection bodies. The deceptive practices allowed ineffective products to reach numerous public and private entities, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences in the event of a fire. The ongoing investigation aims to hold all involved parties accountable.