Police seize PHP3.2-M worth of fake seasoning products

Three warehouses in Malabon City, Cavite and Manila, which are suspected of housing counterfeit flavor enhancements, were raided by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Wednesday. (Photo: Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)/ Facebook)

MANILA–Police seized some PHP3.2-million worth of fake food seasoning products in successive raids in Malabon City, Bacoor, Cavite and Manila.

Three warehouses in Malabon City, Cavite and Manila, which are suspected of housing counterfeit flavor enhancements, were raided by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Wednesday.

These establishments were the Tianci International Cargo Express/Lucky Javier Santos warehouse along Platinum Street, Barangay Tinajeros, Malabon City where PHP3.2-million worth of fake seasoning products were seized; a warehouse in Barangay Niog 3, Molino, Bacoor, Cavite; and a wholesale store in Blumentritt, Manila.

Inside the Malabon City warehouse, authorities discovered 415 boxes of alleged counterfeit seasoning granules worth some PHP3.2 million, which were packed and ready for distribution.

Authorities said that they also found a sack of granules that had yet to be added to the inventory.

Supt. Rizalino Gapas of the CIDG Anti-Fraud Unit, the management of Maggi Magic Sarap sought their help in stopping the counterfeiting operation.

The original Maggi Magic Sarap seasoning is sold for PHP4 per sachet in grocery stores, while the counterfeit product is being sold at PHP5 per three sachets by sidewalk vendors.

Gapas cautioned the public to be wary of fake food products, saying there is no guarantee that these are safe for human consumption and there is a danger of possible food poisoning.