THIRTY-SEVEN Vietnamese nationals and six Chinese nationals were arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s National Capital Region Field Unit for involvement in separate criminal offenses on Wednesday, a report to PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos said.

The 37 Vietnamese nationals were arrested following a complaint for illegal detention and violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Device Regulations Act of 1988, said CIDG-NCRFU chief, Colonel Randy Glenn F. Silvio.

The official also reported to PNP-CIDG director, Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro that seven Filipinas employed as ‘encoders’ by the four of the Vietnamese nationals identified as Lo Thanh Zuan,27; and Nguyen Nu Tra Mi,25, both females and Huynh Van Phuc,28; and Nguyen Ngok Sang Em,29, both males, were rescued during the operation inside no. 7249 J. Victor Street in Barangay Pio del Pilar in Makati City.

The 33 other Vietnamese nationals, 10 of them males who were arrested during the Makati City raid were found to be either acting as supervisors or encoders of the company.

Silvio said they raided the Makati place past 6 p.m. Wednesday following a complaint from two persons who claimed that their relatives and friends are being held against their will by the Vietnamese nationals.

He said that recovered inside the suspects’ place were 14 desktop computers, 49 blank magnetic cards, two card readers/duplicating machines, 50 pieces of assorted credit cards, 42 assorted cellphones and different identification cards.

The Asian nationals are now being investigated at the CIDG Southern Metro Manila District Field Office in Fort Bonifacio.

Silvio said that the four Chinese nationals identified as Wu Bao Wei,28; Lin Qiang Jui,62; Ling Qing Mo,36; and Yang Yue Hua,50, were arrested at no. 1037 Juan Luna Street corner Chacon St. in Tondo, Manila for violation of RA 8293 or the intellectual property rights and RA 10963 or the Tax Reform and Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

He said that members of the CIDG Manila District Field Unit placed the four under arrest following a. buy-bust operation which led in the confiscation of suspected smuggled cigarettes.

Recovered during the sting were some P350,000 worth of Blue Septwolves, Guiyan Black, Huang Shan, Peony and Yunyan cigarettes and the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.

Two other Chinese nationals identified as Mingda Zhang,30, and Shan Shan Tan,22, were arrested for violation of RA 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 in relation to FDA Circular 2017-143 and 2021-2767, said Silvio.

He said that the two led by Zhang, the owner of Raftel Consumer Goods Trading were arrested inside Ritz Royale Tower in Lavezarez Street in Binondo, Manila. Seven of their Filipino employees were also arrested during the operation while a 3rd Chinese identified only as alias ‘Samie’ is still being hunted.

Silvio said that they conducted the sting following a complaint that the accused were engaged in the illegal sale of unregistered Wawang High-Quality Mosquito Coils.

Recovered during the sting were an estimated P1.8 million worth of Wawang mosquito coils being sold by the suspects without any FDA authority.

Criminal charges are now being readied against the arrested suspects, Silvio said.