Fake cell phone syndicate busted

Agents of the Criminal Investigation Group (CIDG) busted a big-time syndicate believed to be behind the unauthorized reproduction of Nokia brand cellular phones following a raid at an office in Binondo, Manila the other day.

Senior Superintendent Cipriano Querol, chief of the CIDG’s Detection and Special Operations Division (DSOD), said the raid at Room 507 of the China Town Steel Tower, located on Asuncion Street in Binondo, Manila, effectively dismantled the syndicate’s local operations with the seizure of 34 boxes of re-modelled cellular phones and accessories worth P4 million.

"During the operation we were able to seize boxes upon boxes of mobile phones with defaced trademarks and accessories," said Querol, who pointed out that the operation was well coordinated with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and cellular phone manufacturer Nokia Philippines.

Four persons, including two women, who were inside the office at the time of the raid, were brought to Camp Crame for questioning to determine the extent of their participation in the syndicate’s operations.

Citing intelligence reports, the syndicate, allegedly headed by a certain John Tan, who was able to elude arrest during the raid, is behind the proliferation of fake Nokia cellular phones being sold in Greenhills, Cubao, Baclaran and Divisoria shopping centers.

"The seized phones come from Taiwan and are being refitted in the country to make it appear they are Nokia products, when they are not," Querol said. "We launched the operation after we received dozens of complaints over the fake cellular phones being distributed in the local market and sold as brand new and original Nokia products," Querol said.