PUBLIC apprehension that fake medicines such as paracetamol and other cures for coughs, flu, and the common cold, are now proliferating turned out to be true after joint government operatives led by the Intelligence Group of the Bureau of Customs (IG-BOC) staged a raid at two storage facilities in Parañaque City and confiscated some P30 million worth of bogus, over-the-counter products, from a Pakistani national.

The operation would be the second time in the last two months that the BOC successfully launched an operation targeting fake medicines.

Last November 24, 2021, the IG also seized fake medicines from a warehouse in Pasig City such as Alaxan, Tuseran Forte, Propan, and Diatabs with an estimated value of P50 million.

Alvin Enciso, chief customs intelligence officer at the Manila International Container Port (MIC), in his report to Customs Intelligence Service (CIIS) director, Jeoffrey Tacio and deputy commissioner for intelligence (DCI) Raniel Ramiro, said the joint operations last January 5, 2022, along Highland Street, Marcelo Green Village and at No. 27 Pearl Street, Severina Subdivision, both in Parañaque City, also resulted to the arrest of one ‘Adel Rajput, 31, presently a resident of Caloocan City.

Enciso headed the BOC contingent in the operation also participated in by elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Intelligence Service, AFP (ISAFP), Philippine Coast Guard, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

Found and confiscated during the operations are fake versions of Biogesic, Neozep, Bioflu, Immunpro, Ivermectin, Phenokinon F Injection, Medicol, Planax, Alaxan FR and, MX3, among others.

Enciso noted that both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Unilab Pharmaceuticals, the makers of market-leading paracetamol brand Biogesic, stated that the said medicines were counterfeit.

“The counterfeit medicines were packed in cartons with tags of Chinese characters,” Enciso noted further.

Suspect Rajput has been brought to the Paranaque City Prosecutors’ Office for the inquest and will face various cases for violation of Sec. 1401 (Unlawful Importation/Exportation), Sec. 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) paragraph (l) (5) in relation to Sec. 118 (Prohibited Importation and Exportation) paragraph (e) of RA 10183 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and, violation of RA 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines).

Enciso said they would also recommend the revocation’s the suspect’s visa before the Bureau of Immigration.

Comm. Guerrero, who authorized the operations, condemned as “criminal” the effort by some unscrupulous individuals to profit from other people’s suffering as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage.

“It is sad how these criminals are using the pandemic for their selfish gain, especially when it comes to medicines.

“These are medicines that people thought will relieve them of their pain, their conditions. It is unforgivable that these individuals are using people’s desperation to earn money,” Guerrero said.

The government’s drive against fake medicines proved timely amidst reports of supply shortage in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of paracetamol and other anti-viral and anti-flu medicines, thus saving the public from purchasing fake brands that cannot cure them while being scammed of their money.