Vietnamese companies regain control of cashew nut containers in suspected scam in Italy

Under the Prime Minister’s directions, the MOFA coordinated closely with relevant ministries and sectors to examine, clarify causes, and assist the domestic companies concerned to deal with the case.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy also worked with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Development, financial police, and related agencies in Italy to promote the settlement and minimize losses to Vietnamese firms.

All the cashew nut containers involved in the suspected scam in Italy have been returned to their Vietnamese owners.

Earlier, in February, through the brokerage company Kim Hanh Viet, Vietnamese enterprises signed contracts with some Italian firms to export 100 containers of cashew nuts to Italy. 

Detecting a risk of a scam, the enterprises halted their shipments. However, they still lost control of 35 containers worth about US$7 million due to a loss of the original documents.

After a few months, all 35 containers have now been shipped back to Vietnam or were sold to other clients.  They are among a total of 100 containers of the product shipped to a buyer in Italy. 

Tran Thanh Hai, vice director of the Agency for Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, attributed the achievement to successful measures taken to protect the legitimate interests of businesses in accordance with the provisions of domestic and international laws.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien sent an official letter to the Italian ministers of the Economy and Finance as well as the foreign affairs and international cooperation agencies to request their coordination. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also spoke directly with his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi to ask for support to settle the case.

Vietnamese companies were recommended to be more careful when negotiating international business contracts to avoid similar incidents./.