The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has alerted the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Hanoi to investigate signs of commercial fraud involving the export of Vietnamese spices to the UAE. The Vietnam Pepper Association reported fraudulent activity by a buyer named Bab A1 Rehab Foodstuff Trading LLC and Ajman Bank JSC. Four containers of spices worth almost $400,000 have already gone missing, and there are concerns that a container of star anise may be lost as well. The ministry has requested the UAE Embassy's assistance in temporarily seizing the consignment and investigating the previous incidents.