CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, (Philippines): A 59-year-old Australian allegedly running an underground trade in imported automotive batteries from a rented house was arrested in the city on Tuesday (Aug 25), following a three-month surveillance operation.
Seized from him were suspected smuggled batteries worth US$25,947 (P1.6 million).
The suspect, identified only as alias “Frank,” was caught during an “Oplan Megashopper” entrapping operation in Barangay Iponan, according to Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10).
Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Cagayan de Oro City Field Unit, the Regional Special Operations Team (RFU 10 RSOT), Police Station 7 of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-10) conducted the joint raid.
Authorities said the suspect allegedly imports the Chinese-made Eric Francis Battery (EFB).
Verification with DTI-10 revealed that the Australian had no permit to sell the automotive batteries. The products also lacked the mandatory Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers.
Investigators said the suspect operated without an established physical store, instead utilizing a rented residential house in Barangay Iponan to store and distribute the units.
An undercover agent initially bought five units of EFB-R NS60LMF 9-plate and five units of EFB-R N66LMF 11-plate lead-acid batteries using a marked P1,000 bill mixed with 27 pieces of boodle money.
A subsequent search of the premises led to the seizure of 487 additional lead-acid batteries of varying plate capacities, bringing the total estimated market value of confiscated goods to P1,582,400. A transaction receipt was also seized.
The suspect and the seized evidence were turned over to the CIDG field office for documentation.
Charges for violating Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394) and Standards Law (RA 4109) are being prepared for inquest before the City Prosecutor’s Office.
Brig. Gen. Aaron Mandia, PRO-10 commander lauded the operating units, emphasizing that the operation protected consumers from unauthorized and potentially unsafe products while curbing economic sabotage and smuggling in the region. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
