Philippine NBI Seizes Millions in Fake Drugs

The National Bureau of Investigation of the Philippines seized more than P25 million worth of fake drugs allegedy imported form India, Pakistan and Singapore and arrested a person involved in the distribution and sales of the confiscated medications.

Agent Terrence Agustin, of the NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) informed reporters that Renante Dumasig, 35, of Paranaque City, was arrested after confiscating anti-convulsants, antibiotics, anesthetics, diuretics and antihypertensive medications that were unregistered and with inappropriate labeling, reported the Philippine Star.

Dumasig was arrested in a sting operation after receiving marked money by a government agent posing as a buyer in a shopping mall parking lot.  Dumasig led agents to his office which was stocked with the fake drugs.  He was placed under surveillance after two undercover agents purchased fake medicines from him in September.  Police turned over the purchased medicines to the Food and Drug Administration which certified they were unregistered and not in accordance to labeling requirements. 

Agustin said Dumasig operated a legal business, but that he allegedly “included the counterfeit drugs in his operation.”