A Chinese national has been arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents for allegedly selling medicines for the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19), officials reported yesterday..
Following the suspect’s arrest, NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor reminded the public about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory informing that there is no registered drugs or vaccines specifically for COVID-19 treatment or prevention.
Distor said the suspect, Shi JianChuan, was nabbed during an entrapment operation conducted by the NBI’s Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) in Binondo, Manila last Wednesday.
NBI agents also seized during the operation 34 boxes of the unregistered capsules with brand name “Linhua Qingwen Jiaonang” with an estimated value of P1.36 million.
Distor said that a certification issued by the FDA states that Shi Jianchuan does not have a license-to-operate and that the capsule is unregistered in their office.
Shi was presented for inquest before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office for violating Section 11(k) of Republic Act 3720, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as amended by R.A. 9711; the Food and Drug Administration Act of 20090; and Section 69 (c) of R.A. 1469, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Distor said the operation was conducted after the NBI received information that there were groups of Chinese nationals engaged in online selling of capsules claiming to cure COVID-19.
He noted that the capsules can be ordered through the mobile app “WeChat.”
With the information, Distor said agents posing as buyers were able to set up a meeting with the suspect to buy medicines. (Jeffrey Damicog)