(Pixabay)
Two individuals were arrested on Monday, March 30, in an entrapment operation conducted by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for illegal selling of unregistered “Tirzepatide”.
The operation, was conducted at around 2:22 p.m. by the QCPD in coordination with the Philippine Air Force–Armed Forces of the Philippines (PAF-AFP).
Police identified the suspects as alias “Mary Ann”, 30, a receptionist at an aesthetic clinic, and alias “Francis John”, 30, a delivery rider.
Both are residents of Barangay Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City.
According to PLTCOL Edison Ouano, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), the operation stemmed from intelligence information provided by the PAF-AFP regarding the proliferation of the illegal sale of Tirzepatide online.
Authorities conducted surveillance and a test-buy operation, during which a sample of the product was purchased and submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for laboratory examination.
The FDA later confirmed that the Tirzepatide being sold was not registered, making its distribution illegal and potentially dangerous to consumers.
The entrapment operation led to the arrest of the suspects while allegedly selling 25 vials of Tirzepatide - comprising 15 mg and 30 mg doses along with bacterial water solutions.
The transaction took place at a coffee shop drive-thru along Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Avenue in Barangay Bagumbayan.
Recovered from the suspects were several mobile phones used in coordinating the sale, printed labels and packaging materials intended for distribution, and a marked P1,000 bill used in the test-buy.
The suspects are set to face charges for violating Republic Act 9711, or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
The QCPD reiterated its warning to the public in purchasing medical products, especially those marketed online, and to verify whether such items are duly registered with the FDA to avoid health and legal risks.