CEBU, Philippines - Five right-hand-drive vehicles amounting to almost P1 million were seized by the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 from a warehouse in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City during a raid last Wednesday.
The raid was based on a search warrant issued by executive judge Marilyn of the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City against Muhammad Irfan for violation of the Republic Act 8506 which bans the registration and operation of vehicles with right-hand steering wheels.
Inspector Fermin Armendarez III said they have been monitoring Irfan for the past few weeks after receiving reports that the latter is engaged in illegal importation of prohibited vehicles.
“Nakadawat mi og report nga naay illegal importer diha sa lugar mao among gi-verify,” he said.
According to Armendarez, some of their operatives went undercover and were able to enter the warehouse of Irfan where they found illegally imported vehicles.
Among the RHD vehicles seized during the raid were four units of Honda Fit and a Mitsubishi Colt.
Armendarez said a Honda Fit costs P175,000 excluding the conversion cost which is P25,000 while the Mitsubishi Colt costs around P210,000. The CIDG estimated the total cost of the seized vehicles at P910,000.
The CIDG is currently preparing the necessary documents to charge Irfan for violation of Section 1 of Republic Act 8506. (FREEMAN)