Cebu shops selling banned slimming drugs shut

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) closed down two Chinese stores in downtown Cebu City that was selling unregistered slimming pills and coffee that allegedly contained harmful ingredients.

In a raid conducted June 5, the NBI seized 100 small boxes of Hokkaido Slimming Pills, 20 boxes of Pearl White Slimming Capsule, three boxes of Perfect Figure Slimming Capsule, five boxes of Slimming Beauty Capsule and 51 boxes each of Leisure 18 and Slimming Coffee from Yu Lian Merchandising Store on Manalili Street corner Legaspi Street.

Seized from Beauty Shape Cosmetics along Sanciangko Street were 11 boxes of Hokkaido Slimming Pills and other banned slimming products.

The NBI had yet to come up with the total amount of the items seized from the two stores but a box of Hokkaido Slimming Pills cost P175 each.

These items will be subjected to laboratory examination to prove that they are not healthy to use by people.

“The slimming products confiscated by our agents are banned by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). These pills reportedly have side effects which can even lead to death,” said Max Salvador, NBI-7 director.

These unregistered slimming pills contain harmful ingredients such as amphetamine and sibutramine, which cause cerebral hemorrhage, irregular heartbeat, comma, pulmonary hypertension, stroke, heart attack, extreme fever, tremor, rapid muscle breakdown, psychosis and even death.

Salvador said charges for violating Republic Act No. 3720 or the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act would be filed against those responsible for selling unregistered slimming pills.