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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Smuggled vapes, fake goods worth billions confiscated by Customs

Smuggled vapes, fake goods worth billions confiscated by Customs

Published Mar 15, 2025 03:10 am

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Around ₱1.18 billion worth of allegedly smuggled disposable vapes, vape pods, and used clothing from China was confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) from a warehouse in Valenzuela City on Thursday, March 13.

The total seized vape products were valued at around ₱320 million, while the allegedly smuggled second-hand clothes or ukay-ukay and fake goods were estimated at ₱860 million.

“We found various vape brands in the warehouse during the inspection. The total of ₱320 million for the vape products alone includes the excise taxes that the government should have collected from the importation of these products,” said Verne Enciso, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) director.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio noted that more Filipinos, particularly the younger generation, are switching from traditional tobacco products to vapes.

“This shift in the market makes border control measures all the more important because we need to ensure we put safe, tested, and licensed vape products out there,” Rubio emphasized.

Besides disposable vapes, vape pods, and ukay-ukay, CIIS-MICP agents also found “handheld and desk fans, [branded] phone chargers, Chinese food items, wireless headsets, disposable syringes, office chairs, wall panels, and other assorted merchandise.”

BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy emphasized the need for consumers to avoid smuggled and counterfeit products.

“Consumers are being victimized twice by counterfeit and smuggled products,” Uy said.

“First, they buy products made of unsafe and substandard materials. These products pose health risks. And second, smuggled products do not have warranties and guarantees. So, they are not only inferior to their original counterparts, they also put their consumers at financial and health risks,” he explained.

CIIS-MICP secured the warehouse with padlocks and seals, with a scheduled inventory by Customs examiners.

Warehouse and shop owners may face charges for violating Sections 117 and 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) concerning regulated importation, exportation, and misdeclaration, along with Section 1113 on seizure and forfeiture.

They will also be charged under Republic Act (RA) No. 8293 (Intellectual Property Code), RA 10963 (TRAIN Law), and National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Board Resolution No. 079-2005, which regulates the import and export of tobacco products.

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Bureau of Customs (BoC) Bienvenido Rubio
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