NBI seizes P4M worth of fake flu vaccines

Amid the scramble for immunity against the dreaded A(H1N1) virus, government agents seized some P4 million worth of fake flu vaccines in a sting operation targeting a businesswoman in Laguna province last week. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has said its agents nabbed the suspect Jennifer Cristobal, 28, in her home at 19 Lily St., Sampaguita Village in San Pedro City in Laguna. Radio dzBB reported Wednesday that Cristobal sold the vaccines at P3,000 per vial, about P1,000 cheaper than the genuine product. NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division agents seized several cardboard boxes of fake flu vaccines, which turned out to contain water, during the raid on Cristobal's house. A press statement on the NBI Web site said Cristobal's arrest stemmed from a complaint lodged by Sanofi Pasteur, maker of the Vaxigrip (inactivated influenza vaccine). Investigation showed Cristobal's KNJ Marketing was selling fake products and passing them off as products of Sanofi Pasteur. After a test-buy of Cristobal's vaccines proved positive, the NBI obtained a search warrant from San Pedro Regional Trial Court Branch 31. Last Friday, the NBI arrested Cristobal and raided her house, where they found 180 vials of Vaxigrip vaccines, 10 boxes of syringes, official and delivery receipts, certificate of product registration, labels, marketing paraphernalia, computers, a telefax machine, and printers. Cristobal is being detained at the NBI jail and is facing charges of sale of counterfeit drugs. - GMANews.TV