NBI Levels Serious Charges Against Four in Rice Repacking Fraud

In a significant move against illegal rice trade practices, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has charged four individuals following a raid on a facility in Bocaue, Bulacan. The suspects, including a warehouse manager, two cashiers, and an inventory officer, were apprehended and transported to the Department of Justice on February 12, 2025. The charges laid against them include hoarding, adulteration, profiteering, misleading labeling, and the severe, non-bailable offense of economic sabotage. The NBI has kept the identities of the accused under wraps for now. NBI Director Jaime Santiago revealed that the raided warehouse was involved in mixing various types of rice, both local and imported, old and new, repackaging them into new bags, and selling them at inflated prices. Investigations further uncovered that the facility was mixing different rice varieties to create a ‘premium’ product enhanced with pandan scent. Santiago noted that the warehouse had been monitored since December of the previous year and might be part of a larger network engaged in similar rice repacking and hoarding activities.