Police seized more than P12 million worth of refurbished laptops and mobile phones sold illegally during an operation inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, authorities said.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested five people during the February 5, 2026 operation in Subic, Zambales, after officers discovered a warehouse selling refurbished gadgets at unusually low prices without proper government approval.

Police said around 2,400 laptops and more than 60 mobile phones were confiscated during the raid.

Plt. Mark Louie Tamayo, assistant chief of the Investigation Section of CIDG-3, said the warehouse sold refurbished laptops both in the local market and through online platforms without certification from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“The subject warehouse na ito ay nagbebenta ng refurbished laptops sa local market at online platforms at a very low price without the NTC approval and certification,” Tamayo said.

Authorities said the operation followed four months of surveillance.

Tamayo said investigators found that the warehouse was licensed only for export and not for local sale.

“Based sa aming investigative research, itong particular warehouse ay nasa loob ng Subic Bay Freeport Zone which is ‘yung kanilang license is for export supposedly and kanilang mga products,” Tamayo said.

“Ibig sabihin ‘yung mga damaged laptops at electronic gadgets sa ibang bansa ini-import dito sa freeport zone natin. Kapag nasa freeport zone they enjoy tax exemption at privileges… kinakahoy ‘yung mga maayos na piyesa, linilipat hanggang sa mabuo ang pwede pang gamitin na laptop kaya ibinebenta sa merkado sa halagang P2,000-P5,000,” he added.

Police said charges will be filed against the suspects for violating the Consumer Act of the Philippines, unfair competition laws, and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Authorities are also pursuing another suspect, a Chinese national who is believed to own the facility. Efforts to obtain statements from the arrested suspects were ongoing, police said.