E-cigarette file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Authorities arrested two men in San Pablo City, Laguna, after being caught selling P65 million worth of smuggled vape products, according to the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
In a report on Wednesday, CIDG said its operatives within the province, together with representatives from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, collared suspects “Allan” and “Regan” in Purok 6, Barangay Bautista, on March 11.
READ: Malabon, Parañaque raids yield P3.72 billion of smuggled vapes
Police revealed that their operation stemmed from a tip from a concerned citizen who saw boxes being delivered within the area.
Upon further investigation, authorities discovered that behind the suspects’ shop, located within their residence, was a warehouse owned by a certain Jehrie Chavez, containing large boxes of the following smuggled vape products:
- 52 boxes of Mixed Garden e-cigarettes
- 71 boxes of Pink Snoee e-cigarettes
- 25 boxes of Hazel Silky Ice e-cigarettes
- 80 boxes of Red, Blue Bomb e-cigarettes
- 83 boxes of Red Swivel e-cigarettes
- 99 boxes of Black Ice e-cigarettes
- 52 boxes of Blush Ice e-cigarettes
- 73 boxes of Violet Ice e-cigarettes
- 86 boxes of Red Ice e-cigarettes
- 85 boxes of Nerdy Gem e-cigarettes
- 33 boxes of Purple Snow e-cigarettes
- 56 boxes of Green Ice e-cigarettes
- 73 boxes of Pink, Blue Bomb e-cigarettes
- 118 boxes of Blue Bomb Ice e-cigarettes
- 43 boxes of Sour Neon e-cigarettes
When asked if they had the pertinent documents to possess and sell the products, the suspects failed to present them.
They were also found to be selling the items without legal authority from the Flava Corp. Philippines, the CIDG said.
READ: Rep. Rufus Rodriguez tells BOC, BIR to file raps vs vape firms
The arrested suspects were put under the custody of the CIDG in Laguna, along with confiscated items worth P65 million.
Before this, authorities also found P3.7 billion worth of allegedly smuggled e-cigarettes or vapes from China during separate raids conducted in warehouses located in Malabon and Parañaque on March 1.
On October 27 last year, the Bureau of Customs operation in Valenzuela yielded P1.4 billion worth of Flava e-cigarettes.
This event prompted the House of Representatives to investigate the case.