The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated an estimated P19 million worth of smuggled vape products from two separate warehouses in Manila and Laguna on Friday, August 23, 2024.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the owners of the warehouses and shops involved, who were not named, could face multiple charges under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
Additional charges may also be filed under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Board Resolution No. 079-2005, which governs the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products.
Rubio authorized the operations led by agents from the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) in collaboration with the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The BOC chief said stopping the trafficking of smuggled products is crucial in preventing criminal organizations from profiting at the expense of unsuspecting consumers. He emphasized that the safety of these vapes is compromised due to their unregulated entry into the market.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso revealed that in a warehouse in Quiapo, Manila, the team discovered approximately P6.475 million worth of vape devices, vape pods, and disposable vapes, including popular brands.
The raid also uncovered around P75 million worth of smuggled motorcycle parts and accessories, bringing the total value of confiscated goods in Manila to P81.475 million.
In a separate operation in San Pedro City, Laguna, the BOC seized around P12.6 million worth of smuggled disposable vapes.
To secure the seized items, the BOC team temporarily padlocked and sealed both locations, pending an inventory of the goods by assigned Customs examiners, witnessed by representatives from CIIS, ESS, and the warehouse and shop.
Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy praised the swift action of the BOC team. ““Our partnership with key government agencies and local officials led to the successful seizure of these vape products,” he said.
Uy noted that the growing popularity of vapes among Filipinos had prompted the BOC to intensify border patrols and gather intelligence on the illegal trafficking of these products.
