NBI arrests 2 Chinese for selling fake medicines

Cebu map

CEBU CITY — Two Chinese nationals are facing charges after they were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas for allegedly selling counterfeit medicines worth at least P500,000 in two different shops in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Shi Wenpai, owner and proprietor of Hua Long Supermarket; and Wu Xiao, store manager of Laoxiang Supermarket, were already charged for violation of Republic Act 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs.

The NBI was still looking for Alexine Rapunzel Ong Dy, owner of Laoxiang Supermarket, who was not around when the agents conducted the operation last March 18.

“This (operation) was conducted in the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to hold accountable establishments or individuals caught trading fake medicines or selling medicines without proper documents,” the NBI-7 wrote in a statement sent to reporters.

Confiscated from the Chinese shops were Amoxicillin Capsules 0.25 grams, OCT Lianhua Qingwen Jiaonang; and, CSPC Arbidol Hydrochloride tablets 0.1g WT 2015009 label in Chinese characters. These are some of the drugs believed to be used for the treatment of COVID-19 infections.

Executive Judge Allan Fransisco Garciano of the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City issued a search warrant which was used by the NBI in conducting the operation

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