By JEFFREY DAMICOG
The National Bureau of Investigation seized last Oct. 23 counterfeit Black Rhino wheels valued at around P7 million from several car parts stores in Metro Manila.
NBI officer-in-charge Director Eric Distor said that these fake American brand products were confiscated during raids conducted by the NBI Special Action Unit which was implementing search warrants issued by the courts.
“Seized in the operation were 638 pieces of counterfeit Black Rhino wheels with an estimated value of more or less P7 million,” the NBI said.
“The seized counterfeit wheels were properly documented, inventoried, and taken to a secured warehouse for safekeeping,” it added.
The NBI said the counterfeit wheels were confiscated from car parts stores in Manila, Makati City, Paranaque City, and Quezon City – Annika Tire Center and its warehouse in Manila; Raf Tire Center, Manila; Empire Tire Center, Manila; E.S. Fargo Tire Center, Manila; Fargo Tire Center, Manila; NCL Miller, Quezon City; R.A. Alawiya, Quezon City; Gomags Trading, Paranaque City; Golance Tire Center, Makati City; and Wheelhaus Autocare and its warehouse, Makati City.
The NBI conducted the raids based on the complaint of Just Wheels and Wheel Gallery, an American corporation duly incorporated under the Philippine laws and is the sole and exclusive distributor of Black Rhino wheels in the Philippines.
“NBI-SAU is preparing the documentation for the return of the search warrants to the issuing court and for the filing of charges against the persons liable for violation of Section 155 (Trademark Infringement) and 168 (Unfair Competition) of RA 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines),” the NBI said.
