P349.6 million fake footwear seized

MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group seized P349.6 million worth of counterfeit footwear and equipment in simultaneous raids on two warehouses in Apalit, Pampanga on Feb. 26, the CIDG reported.

Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II, CIDG director, said operatives and police units were serving search warrants on the warehouses when they found boxes of counterfeit footwear, raw materials and machineries used to produce the slippers.

Morico said representatives of Crocs Inc. were present when the warrants for violation of the Intellectual Property Code were served.

At the first warehouse in Barangay Balucuc, police found 181 boxes of trademark-infringing footwear, 30 sacks of resin raw materials, four heavy machines and assorted production equipment valued at P216.3 million.

Operatives found 1,481 boxes of counterfeit footwear, with an estimated value of P133.29 million, at the second warehouse.

Morico said the subject of the warrants was not present during the raids.