Authorities have arrested two Chinese nationals and seized P21 million worth of face masks during an entrapment operation in Taguig City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said on Sunday.
The CIDG identified the Chinese nationals as James Zhu and Charles Lee, both were arrested on Friday night (June 19) at AKH Construction Plant, Lusacan, Barangay Wawa, Taguig City for selling large quantities of KN95 disposable face masks through phone call and text transactions.
The confiscated face masks have a market value of P105 each. However, the arrested Chinese nationals sell it at a cheaper price of P45 each.
The CIDG Anti-Transnational Crimes Unit seized 200 boxes containing 1,000 pieces of KN95 face mask each and entrapment money, including a P1,000 bill used to make boodle money appear genuine.
Zhu and Lee are now under the temporary custody of the CIDG ATCU and will be facing charges for violations of Republic 11469 or Bayanihan to Heal as One Act; RA 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act); and Article 151 in relation to Article 14(7), both of the Revised Penal Code.