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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 3 persons arrested, P31-M 'unregistered' vape products seized in Laguna -- NBI

3 persons arrested, P31-M 'unregistered' vape products seized in Laguna -- NBI

Published Jul 8, 2025 12:54 pm
Three persons have been arrested and more than P31 million worth of “unregistered” vaporized nicotine or vape products have been seized during an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Laguna.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago presented before the media on Tuesday, July 8, the arrested suspects whom he identified as Kert Lester A. Simbajon, Javer M. Dirampatun, and Romeo O. Cada.
Santiago said the suspects were arrested by operatives of the NBI Special Task Force (NBI-STF) last Monday, July 7, at a storage facility in Binan City, Laguna.
He said confiscated were 40,500 pieces of vape products worth P31,995,000 and 3,880 pieces vape pods worth P640,200.
Before the operation, Santiago said the operatives were able to connect with the suspects through cyber patrolling.
“Tumanggap ako ng mga reklamo na maraming vape products na substandard na ibinibenta sa paligid (I have received complaints on the proliferation in the sale of substandard vape products),” he said.
“So, inatasan ko ang ating mga regions na to conduct a massive operation on this case (So I directed the NBI regional offices to conduct a massive operation on this case),” he added.
Those arrested have been charged before the Binan City Prosecutor’s Office with violations of Section 4(d) and 18 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11900, the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, and Section 8 of RA No. 11900 in relation to RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, the NBI said.
It also said that the NBI utilizes Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) in identifying the individuals responsible for these illicit activities.
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