Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized around P3.9 million worth of unregistered vape products in two separate raids in Quezon City.
CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the operations also resulted in the arrest of six people, whom he said, are now facing charges of violations of Republic Act 11900 (Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act); RA 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings Law), and RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and Section 10 in relation to Section 18 (a) of RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines).
He said the suspects were caught in the act of selling and distributing vape products without the necessary permits from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“This is part of our intensified campaign against smuggling, economic sabotage, and other illegal activities that include sale of unregistered vape products nationwide,” said Torre.
The operations were conducted in Barangay Bagbag and Barangay Roxas District where 8,567 pieces of X-BLACK ELITE 12000 Puffs, 300 pieces of X-BLACK ELITE 8000 Puffs, 924 prefilled pod cartridges of various flavors; two mother boxes of X-BLACK ELITE 12000, one mother box of KADOBAR, and three mother boxes of Royal Elite Batteries were confiscated.
“We urge the public to report all illegal trade of vape products and other illegal activities in your localities and your CIDG will do the rest” said Torre.
Last year, the Department of Health earlier sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to contain the selling and distribution of vape products due to health concerns among the youth.
“This is alarming because I talked to the director of the Lung Center of the Philippines and they have cases of minors, below 18, that already have lung injury from e-smoking from e-cigarettes and e-vaping,” said Herbosa in an interview at Camp Crame last year.
“They (minors) are getting sick because they can buy vape and they have been doing this for months. So this is what I asked the PNP, to help implement what is written in the law because the DOH has no enforcement power,” he added.