FOUR persons were arrested during the entrapment operation of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 for allegedly selling overpriced alcohol online.

Three of the suspects were arrested in Minglanilla while the other one was in Cebu City.

The first two identified suspects, namely Queeny May Rose de los Reyes, 24, and Jan-Jan Alano, 23, were arrested on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 12 p.m. in Sitio Villa San Pedro, Brgy. Tulay, Minganilla. The CIDG 7 seized plastic bottles, hand sanitizers and ethyl alcohol from the suspects.

At 2 p.m., another online seller named Abel Daan Laceda, 18 years old and a resident of Tungkil, Minglanilla, was arrested in Sitio San Roque, Brgy. Tulay with her unreasonably priced alcohol.

Three hours later, a certain Rio Espejon, 45, of Brgy. Tisa was arrested inside a mall located in Lahug for allegedly selling alcohol for P200 per bottle. Bottles of isopropyl alcohol with an estimated value of P19,600 were seized by another unit from the CIDG 7.

According to CIDG 7 Deputy Chief Police Major Ronald Allan Tolosa, the online sellers allegedly sold the alcohol at P220 per bottle when the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) pegged the price at only P142.

Police Major Tolosa said they will investigate if the alcohol sold by these suspects is not fake and if it is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to ensure the consumers’ safety when using these products.

The CIDG 7 found out about this illegal business through social media. The team even ordered a few bottles to verify if the products were sold at exorbitant prices.

The suspects will face charges for violating Republic Act 7581, also known as the Price Act. (AYB / MMC)