Police in northern Phu Tho province have arrested and charged two executives of Tomoken Vietnam Co. Ltd., a fire safety equipment manufacturer, for allegedly producing and selling millions of counterfeit fire extinguishers that pose serious risks to public safety.
According to the Phu Tho Police Department, director Phan The Hoai and his brother, chief operating officer Phan Bach Thong, are accused of manufacturing more than 1.6 million substandard dry-powder fire extinguishers between 2023 and 2025. The products were sold nationwide under the Tomoken brand, generating more than 834 billion dong (US$33 million) in revenue.
Investigators said the fake extinguishers were made using a “self-invented formula” with no scientific basis, containing up to 54% quartz (SiO₂) — a material with no fire-suppressing properties — instead of standard extinguishing chemicals. The alteration was allegedly intended to cut production costs and boost profits.
Tests conducted by Vietnam’s Institute of Criminal Science under the Ministry of Public Security confirmed that Tomoken’s extinguishers failed to meet the national safety standards and were unable to extinguish Class B fires (liquid fuel fires).
Searches at Tomoken’s factories and warehouses in Phu Tho, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh uncovered extensive mixing and bottling lines operating without any certified quality inspection. Investigators found that the company used six main ingredients — including monoammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, silica, quartz, silicon oil, and coloring agents — based on internal recipes created by the two directors.
Despite the arrests, some Tomoken extinguishers reportedly remain on the market, raising public concerns over fire safety and regulatory oversight. Experts and consumers questioned how such large quantities of untested safety equipment were approved, distributed, and sold without detection.
Phu Tho police chief Major General Nguyen Minh Tuan said the case was being treated as “serious,” citing its impact on public trust and safety. Authorities are expanding the investigation to identify distribution networks and potential lapses by inspection and licensing agencies.
If convicted, the accused could face severe penalties under Vietnamese law for producing and trading counterfeit goods and violating fire safety regulations.
The Tomoken scandal has sparked renewed calls for tighter quality control and enforcement in Vietnam’s fire protection industry, as well as stricter certification procedures for safety-related equipment.
*Sources: Tuoi Tre, VnExpress, VOV, Phu Tho Police
