Nasamsam ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng Bureau of Customs (BoC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) ang 150,000 piraso ng pekeng designer watches sa isang bodega sa Tondo, Manila.
Itinuturong may-ari ng bodega ang isang Jones Hernandez, na kilala rin sa mga alyas na Herbert Sy/Robert Sy/John Cruz Ang, at asawa nitong si Lily Desierto Sy.
Nobyembre noong nakaraang taon nang simulan ng mga awtoridad ang pagmamanman sa naturang bodega.
Matapos makumpirma ang illegal na aktibidad, naglabas ang BoC ng Warrant of Seizure and Detention.
Agusan del Sur, nilindol ng magnitude 5.3
Natagpuan sa loob ng bodega ang mga pekeng Omega, Rado, Tag Heuer, Breitling, Calvin Klein, Apple watches, Nike, Lacoste, Ice, Adidas, Swatch, G-Shock, Seiko, 511, Gucci, Polo, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Swiss, Ferrari, Techno Marine, Diesel, Lee, Boss, Puma, Guess, at iba pang brand na tinatayang nagkakahalaga ng P1.5 billion.
"Initial investigation showed that the couple is found to be a primary player who imports and supplies fake watches.
We found delivery records showing this warehouse served as a distribution hub for Manila, stretching as far as Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga and Agusan," pahayag ni Atty. Terence Agustin, supervising agent ng NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division at may hawak ng kaso. (Mina Navarro)
