Thousands of suspected counterfeit electrical products seized

NBI raids QC and Bulacan warehouses over alleged unsafe circuit breakers and panel boards.

Thousands of suspected counterfeit circuit breakers and panel boards were seized by authorities in coordinated raids in Quezon City and Bulacan, raising concerns about electrical safety in homes, offices, and businesses across the country.

The operations, conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, targeted two warehouses allegedly storing counterfeit electrical products. A criminal complaint has since been filed for alleged violations of the Intellectual Property Code.

While counterfeit goods are often viewed as a business or trademark issue, electrical components are a different story. Circuit breakers are designed to prevent overloads, short circuits, and electrical fires. If uncertified products enter the market, the risks can extend far beyond financial losses, potentially affecting families, workers, property owners, and businesses that rely on safe and reliable electrical systems every day.

After the confiscation, the NBI invited Schneider Electric to assist authorities in authenticating the suspected counterfeit products recovered during the operations.

The NBI said the seized products allegedly failed to meet required safety and quality standards. Authorities are urging consumers, contractors, and suppliers to source electrical equipment only from authorized distributors as investigations continue.

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