CIDG seizes P30 million COVID-19 test kits
MANILA, Philippines — Around 30 boxes of unauthorized COVID-19 rapid test kits valued at P30 million were seized from 10 persons in Quezon City yesterday.
Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) apprehended the suspects during an entrapment operation along Scout Bayoran street in Barangay South Triangle at around 11 a.m.
Col. Randy Glenn Silvio, who heads the CIDG’s National Capital Region field office, identified one of the suspects as Marize Santiago. Some of the other suspects, who were not identified by Silvio, were Chinese.
The operation stemmed from reports about rapid test kits and other testing materials illegally sold online.
Around two hours before the operation, a policeman posing as a buyer negotiated with the suspects for the purchase of Clungene rapid test kits in exchange for P204,000.
A check with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed they are not authorized to sell COVID-19 test kits.
“The suspects failed to show to the operatives their license to operate or special permit to sell and distribute the test kits,” Silvio said in a text message.
The suspects are being held for violating Republic Act 9711 or the FDA Act.
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