EPD bares delivery switching scheme targeting drugstores

The arrest of a driver and his helper by elements of the Eastern Police District (EPD) led to the unmasking of a syndicate involving drivers who allegedly defraud a popular chain of drugstores of close to P300,000 daily in "ghost deliveries."

Rey de Castro, operations manager of trucking company Gold Mover’s Transport said they are now conducting an investigation to find out who among their employees are involved in the racket, which has been going on for several years now.

"Sa tingin namin umaabot sa P300,000 kada araw ang nawawala dahil sa ginagawa nilang pagnanakaw," De Castro said.

Instead of delivering expensive infant milk products that cost P2,500 a box to outlets of the drugstore in Metro Manila, the syndicate would switch them with another product that costs only P560 per box.

Two of the trucking firm’s employees — Ever Moreno, 33, driver, and Sonny Robles, 24, helper — were arrested by EPD operatives headed by Inspector Melchor Rosales in Antipolo City last Wednesday while selling milk products.

The raiders also confiscated their Mitsubishi Canter van with license plate XFD 502 loaded with assorted infant milk intended to be delivered to drugstores in Quezon City.

"Ibebenta nila ang mga mahal na gatas ng bata sa Antipolo City tapos bibili sila ng mumurahin para dalhin sa mga outlet," a police investigator said.

Moreno admitted switching the expensive infant milk with less expensive ones so they can earn extra money.

The suspect said he learned about the scheme from a former driver of the said trucking firm.

"Ang ginagawa namin bumibili kami ng mas mumurahing gatas tapos ‘yun ang nasa delivery namin. Ang mahal na gatas ibebenta namin sa iba," Moreno said.

The driver and his helper also admitted that they have been doing this for several years now. They added that majority of their truck drivers and helpers are involved in the "switching" operations.

Rosales said an "inside job" could be involved since the products intended for deliveries to drug outlets remained sealed. "Bago kasi i-deliver dapat nakaselyo ang mga produkto. Pero kung may kasabwat sila sa loob hindi muna nila iseselyo tapos kapag napalitan nila ang produkto saka nila ito seselyuhan."