Over ₱1.5 million worth of smuggled batteries were seized following the arrest of an Australian national in Barangay Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City.
CIDG Cagayan de Oro operatives arrested the 59-year-old suspect, alias Frank, for illegally selling and distributing imported vehicle batteries from China without a permit from the DTI.
Police Brigadier General Aaron Mandia, Officer-in-Charge of PRO 10, stated that over 400 confiscated batteries lacked DTI permits and ICC stickers following a three-month surveillance operation on the foreigner, who was renting a house in the area.
Furthermore, the suspect now faces charges for violating the Consumer Act and trade regulations after authorities recovered five buy-bust items, buy-bust money, and various types of batteries totaling ₱1,582,400.00.
Following this success, police leadership pledged to strengthen coordination with other agencies to protect consumers and suppress illegal businesses in the region.
