MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized P19 million worth of smuggled vape products over the weekend in two separate locations in Manila and Laguna.
The operation held on Friday was led by agents from the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)-Manila International Container Port, in coordination with the Enforcement and Security Service and the Philippine Coast Guard.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso, in a statement on Sunday, said they found an estimated P6.5 million worth of vape devices, vape pods and disposable vapes, such as brands Relx and Top Fog, in a warehouse in Quiapo, Manila.
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They also discovered P75 million worth of smuggled motorcycle parts and accessories in the same warehouse.
“The total amount of smuggled products found in Manila was around P81.475 million. Besides the vape products, our team also uncovered motorcycle parts and accessories, and we know the prices for these go to the thousands, sometimes more,” Enciso said.
In a shop in San Pedro City, Laguna, meanwhile, the BOC team found and seized around P12.6 million worth of smuggled disposable vapes of varying brands, such as Flava, King’s Evo, Grio and Milan.
The shop and the warehouse were temporarily padlocked pending the inventory of goods to be conducted by assigned customs examiners.
The BOC said the owners of the warehouse and shop could face charges for violating Section 117 (regulated importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
They will also face charges in accordance with the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion and the National Tobacco Administration Board Resolution No. 079-2005, or the amended rules and regulations governing the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products.