Manila, March 28 -- The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives have arrested two Chinese nationals for the illegal sale of pre-registered subscriber identity module (SIM) cards in Paranaque City.

In a statement on Friday, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the two suspects, alias Jianbin and Yaoxin, were arrested by the Detectives Special Operations Unit (CIDG DSOU) in an entrapment inside a mall in Barangay Tambo on March 25.

Torre said the suspects were caught selling 170 pieces of assorted pre-registered Globe and Smart SIM cards, which is strictly prohibited under Sections 7 and 11(g) of Republic Act 11934 (SIM Registration Act).

He added that by selling pre-registered SIM cards, the suspects do aw...