It is estimated that more than P4.5 million worth or 12,000 COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits were recovered by police and Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel during an entrapment operation in Pasig City Tuesday afternoon.
It was discovered that 20 boxes of test kits were stored in the warehouse of a medical device importer and wholesaler in Barangay Kapitolyo.
According to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the sale of rapid test kits is not authorized.
So the personnel of the Quezon City district field unit of the CIDG and the 300th Air Intelligence Wing of the PAF negotiated to buy 130 boxes of saliva test kits with the Kunsong brand for almost half a million pesos.
The price of each test kit is P380.
The company owner, 2 marketing officers, and warehouse personnel were arrested in operation.
According to the CIDG, the company owner is a sub-leader of a criminal group in Pasig City, and the group is involved in the illegal sale of RT-PCR test kits.
They will face charges of violating the Food and Drug Administration Law.
According to the FDA, the online sale of COVID-19 antibody test kits is prohibited even with FDA special certification because only medical professionals can use them.
Fishball vendor, 7 others caught in drug session in Pasig
Meanwhile, a fishball vendor and 7 of his companions were arrested after being caught during an alleged drug session in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.
Based on preliminary information from the Pasig PNP drug enforcement unit, their personnel went to the said area after receiving information that a house was allegedly being used as a drug den on Patukod Street.
When the police arrived at the said house, they allegedly found alias Carmen, a fishball vendor, and 7 of his companions using illegal drugs.
Carmen’s companions are all unemployed.
Drug paraphernalia and 8 sachets of illegal drugs worth P64,000 were confiscated from them.
The detainees will face charges of violating RA 9165.
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