By Gabriela Baron
A total of P201 million worth of “fake” footwear and sandals were seized during the two-day operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG) in Bulacan.
CIDG Director PBGen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said authorities seized counterfeit Crocs and Havaianas and arrested five Chinese nationals during the operations.
On June 5, the three Chinese nationals were apprehended in King Sport Property Compound in Marilao, Bulacan who were all caught selling alleged fake Crocs.
About 1,311 sacks containing 62,000 pairs of Crocs were confiscated from the arrested persons’ possession. They have an estimated value of P180 million.
Meanwhile, on June 6, two Chinese nationals were also arrested for peddling fake Crocs in Warehouse No. 3, Duhat Road in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Found in their possession were one white envelope containing the marked and boodle money, one white sack containing 25 pairs of counterfeit Crocs footwear, passport ID, driver’s license, two cellphones, cash in different denominations amounting to P24,400, one truck loaded with 41 sacks containing 25 pairs of Crocs footwear, and one truck loaded with 40 sacks containing 25 pairs of Crocs footwear.
The pieces of evidence were worth P1,012,500, according to CIDG.
During the search, authorities also discovered a warehouse filled with several assorted counterfeit Havaianas, Nike, and Adidas footwear and sandals with an approximate value of more or less P20 million.
“They represent themselves as authorized [distributors] of Crocs products, inducing the public to believe that the goods offered are original, at a price that is way below the distributor price of the company,” Caramat said.
“Further investigation is being conducted by the detectives of CIDG 3 to identify and locate the supplier of the seized counterfeit products,” he added.
Arrested suspects and confiscated evidence were brought to the CIDG office for documentation and proper disposition, while a criminal complaint for violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines is being prepared. – gb
