OVER P1.3 million worth of unregistered coffee products were confiscated while four foreign nationals were arrested by the CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 together with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) representatives and other PNP operating units during an entrapment operation on Monday afternoon in Global Aseana Park 1, De Lapaz, San Simon, Pampanga.
CIDG Director, PMGen Romeo M Caramat Jr identified the suspects as 33-year-old Geen Chen, 39-year-old Huang Sheng (both Chinese) and 34-year-old Dedy Candra (Indonesian) who were caught in the act of selling unregistered “DEFU Coffee Brand”.
Meanwhile, Chen Linren (Chinese) who was also apprehended for Obstruction of Justice, gave false information to mislead or to prevent the operating unit from arresting Chen, Sheng and Candra.
The operating team seized the following pieces of evidence worth P1,393,600.00 million:
– 47 boxes of DEFU Brown Coffee 3 in 1 pack;
– 242 boxes DEFU Creamy White Coffee 3 in 1 pack;
– 414 boxes DEFU Black Coffee assorted pack;
– 25 boxes DEFU Coconut Coffee assorted pack;
– 63 boxes DEFU Oatmeal Coffee assorted pack;
– 80 boxes of assorted DEFU Coffee;
– More or less 12,000 empty boxes of DEFU Coffee;
– Gate pass dated July 7, 2023 with the description “3 paleta labels DEFU” and several delivery receipts which indicate sale and/or distribution of DEFU Coffee products;
– One (1) unit 6-wheeler JAC closed van loaded with boxes of DEFU Coffee products; and
– Industrial machine for manufacturing and labeling of DEFU Coffee products.
“Sa pagsasaliksik ng mga kinatawan ng FDA ay napag-alaman na ang nasabing kumpanya ay walang lisensya para mag-operate at ang DEFU Coffee brand ay walang Certificate of Product Registration (CPR),” PMGen Caramat Jr stated.
The confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to CIDG RFU3 for documentation and proper disposition while the suspects are now facing charges for violations of Sec. 11 (k) of R.A 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009) and PD 1629 (Obstruction of Justice).
“Ang operasyong ito ay bahagi ng CIDG OPLAN “OLEA” alinsunod sa direktiba ng ating Chief PNP PGen Benjamin C Acorda Jr. ay nagsusulong sa pagbibigay proteksyon sa ating mga kababayan laban sa mga hindi rehistradong produktong na maaaring makapinsala sa kalusugan at pigilan ang mga economic sabotuers na patuloy na sumisira sa ekonomiya ng ating bansa, ” added CIDG Top Cop.
