BUREAU of Customs (BoC) operatives seized another shipment of smuggled e-cigarettes and other products worth more than P94 million, as they continued their anti-smuggling operations over the weekend.
BoC operatives seized the contraband from separate raids on a warehouse in Quiapo, Manila, and another one in San Pedro, Laguna, Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio said on Sunday.
“Stopping the trafficking of smuggled products is crucial in the prevention of criminal organizations from profiting from unsuspecting consumers. On the other hand, I appeal to our consumers: buying smuggled products puts your health at risk because by not going through the proper process, the safety of these vapes (e-cigarettes) is already compromised,” the BoC chief added.
According to Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso, the team found an estimated P6.475 million worth of vaping devices, pods, and disposable vape products with brand names Relx and Top Fog, in the Manila warehouse.
They also found more or less P75 million worth of smuggled motorcycle parts and accessories.
“The total amount of smuggled products found in Manila was around P81.475 million, including the motorcycle parts and accessories that the raiding team uncovered, and we know the prices for these go to the thousands; sometimes, more,” Enciso said.
In a shop in San Pedro City, Laguna, the raiding team discovered and seized around P12.6 million worth of smuggled disposable vapes of varying brands, such as Flava, King’s Evo, Grio, and Milan.
Pending inventory of the seized goods, the BoC team temporarily padlocked and sealed off the two locations.
Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy hailed 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. Since vapes have become quite popular among Filipinos in the past years, we started beefing up our border patrols and collecting information about the potential trafficking of these products,” he said, adding that the immediate confirmation of derogatory information led to the operation’s success.
The warehouse and shop’s owners will 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 Republic Act (RA) 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, RA 10963, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, and the National Tobacco Administration Board Resolution 079-2005 (amended rules and regulations governing the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products).
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