NBI raids two stores, seize slimming products

The National Bureau of Investigation seized several slimming products during a raid in two stores in downtown Cebu City.

The agency responded to a request from the Department of Health (DOH) which reported that the pills contain harmful substances that pose serious health risk to its consumers. The NBI raid was done on the Yu Lian Merchandising store at the corner of Manalili and Legaspi streets and Beauty Shape Cosmetics along Sanciangko Street at 9 am today.

DOH identified at least seven slimming products banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that were sold in the two stores. NBI-7 Director Max Salvador said they are still verifying the names of the owners of Yu Lian Merchandising and Beauty Shape Cosmetics which are registered under the names of Rinir Luchavez and Maricar Panerio respectively.

“The slimming products that were confiscated by our agents are banned by the FDA. These pills reportedly have side effects which can even lead to death,” he told reporters in an interview. Salvador advised the public to be careful since the unregistered brand of slimming capsules have been sold everywhere. “These slimming products are not just sold here in Cebu but as well as in Manila.

That is why FDA came up with a list of banned products that are not supposed to be sold in the market,” he said. FDA officers earlier sought the assistance of the NBI 7 to seized unregistered slimming pills in downtown Cebu City.