16 August 2005
Police, NBI on trail of fake drugs gang
LAWMEN are now on the trail of a big-time syndicate involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines following the arrest of two women suspected as distributors last Friday in an entrapment operation in Calasiao town.
The suspects arrested by agents of the police and the National Bureau of Investigation were identified as Glenda Verzosa, 30, and Alma Domingo, 28, who were charged Saturday before the City Prosecutors Office in Dagupan City for violation of Republic Act No. 8203.
Both women were arrested Friday afternoon, in possession of several boxes of counterfeit medicines, consisting of tablets, capsules and vials of at least 54 assorted medicines, all worth P600,000.
They were recommended to post P60,000 bail each for their provisional liberty.
They could be in further trouble however as among the medicines they had in their possessions were several valium tablets, a prescription medicine and one of the prohibited drugs.
The two were aboard a tricycle parked near a road intersection in barangay Nalsian in Calasiao, waiting for somebody to whom they would pass the counterfeit medicines when they were accosted by elements of the Calasiao police with the help of NBI agents.
Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, chief of the Standard and Regulations Division of the Department of Health, hailed the arrest of the two as they could give further information regarding the manufacture, distribution and sale of counterfeit medicines.
He said an inspection showed that from 80 to 85 percent of the counterfeit medicines seized from the two women had Arabic markings indicating these were smuggled from abroad.
The arrest of the two confirmed previous suspicion that Pangasinan is one of the dumping grounds for counterfeit medicines that are originating in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
The suspects arrested by agents of the police and the National Bureau of Investigation were identified as Glenda Verzosa, 30, and Alma Domingo, 28, who were charged Saturday before the City Prosecutors Office in Dagupan City for violation of Republic Act No. 8203.
Both women were arrested Friday afternoon, in possession of several boxes of counterfeit medicines, consisting of tablets, capsules and vials of at least 54 assorted medicines, all worth P600,000.
They were recommended to post P60,000 bail each for their provisional liberty.
They could be in further trouble however as among the medicines they had in their possessions were several valium tablets, a prescription medicine and one of the prohibited drugs.
The two were aboard a tricycle parked near a road intersection in barangay Nalsian in Calasiao, waiting for somebody to whom they would pass the counterfeit medicines when they were accosted by elements of the Calasiao police with the help of NBI agents.
Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, chief of the Standard and Regulations Division of the Department of Health, hailed the arrest of the two as they could give further information regarding the manufacture, distribution and sale of counterfeit medicines.
He said an inspection showed that from 80 to 85 percent of the counterfeit medicines seized from the two women had Arabic markings indicating these were smuggled from abroad.
The arrest of the two confirmed previous suspicion that Pangasinan is one of the dumping grounds for counterfeit medicines that are originating in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
