National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested a former medical representative of a drug company and seized several cartons of fake flu vaccines worth P4 million during a raid in San Pedro, Laguna, an NBI official said on Tuesday.

NBI Director lawyer Nestor M. Mantaring also warned the public against purchasing fake flu vaccines.

Mantaring identified the suspect as Jennifer M. Cristobal, 28, businesswoman, and resident of 19 Lily St., Sampaguita Village, San Pedro, Laguna. She is said to be former medical representative of of Sanofi Pasteur.

“We estimate that the amount of confiscated fake vaccines from the raided house-establishment possibly amounting to P4 million,” said Deputy Director for Special Investigation Services (SIS) lawyer Rickson L. Chiong in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The raid stemmed from the complaint of Sanofi Pasteur, a company registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) that manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products vaccines, including VAXIGRIP (Inactivated Influenza Vaccine).

The product and trademark of the Sanofi Pasteur is also registered with the Intellectual Property Office.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Hong Kong infected with influenza A (H1N1) died of severe pneumonia.

The OFW, a 37-year-old female from Tarlac province, died at 5:47 p.m. of Monday at the United Christian Hospital in Kowloon, Hong Kong, according to the DFA.

She is survived by her husband and a six-month old son, the DFA said.

The DFA said the Filipina was diagnosed with severe pneumonia last July 7. It was however confirmed as a serious case of A(H1N1) four days later.

The NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division (AFCCD) headed by Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Vicente de Guzman III said that they received information that certain individuals in Laguna were engaged in the sale and distribution of a vaccine claimed to be VAXIGRIP which is being presented as a Sanofi Pasteur product.

The Sanofi Pasteur requested the NBI to conduct investigation into the reported selling of fake flu vaccine.

Head Agent Palmer Mallari, executive officer of the NBI-AFCCD, said surveillance indicated that Cristobal of KNJ Marketing was allegedly engaged in the illegal and unauthorized manufacture, distribution and/or sale of counterfeit products, particularly Sanofi Pasteur pharmaceutical products such as but not limited to “VAXIGRIP.”

NBI agents bought two 5 mL vials of VAXIGRIP Multidose and tests showed that they were counterfeit vaccines and the vials contained only mineral water.

Armed with search warrants issued by the San Pedro (Laguna) Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 31, the NBI operatives raided the establishment last Friday.

Cristobal was arrested after selling VAXIGRIP vaccines to NBI agents.

Seized during the operation were 180 vials of VAXIGRIP vaccines, 10 boxes of syringes, Prime Gold Enterprises official receipts, delivery receipts, certificate of product registration, labels, marketing paraphernalia, computer set, telefax, and printers.

The genuine flu vaccine is sold P4,000 each and Cristobal sold her products at P3,000 each.