The Bureau of Customs (BOC) strongly condemns the illicit trade of vape products and all associated unlawful activities.
Accordingly, BOC will be steadfast in its commitment in upholding the provisions outlined in Republic Act No. 11900, the ‘Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act,’ and Republic Act No. 10863, the ‘Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,’.
In furtherance thereof, BOC will proactively demonstrate resilience in implementing stringent regulatory measures to ensure compliance with import standards, and effectively preventing the entry of illicit vape products, including active prosecution of smuggling cases against persons involved.
As a testament, the BOC’s intensified enforcement efforts, bolstered monitoring and inspection capabilities, and coordinated operations resulted in the seizure of PhP5.070 billion worth of smuggled vape products in just the first ten months of 2024, and active prosecution of criminal case against responsible officers of identified personalities.
The Bureau’s commitment in curbing the prevalence of vape smuggling was further demonstrated through the condemnation of 14,100 boxes of forfeited vape products worth PhP1.480 billion, discovered in Valenzuela in October 2023, which was completed on April 5, 2024. In addition, the BOC also successfully concluded the condemnation of 19,800 and 8,400 boxes of seized vape products on August 16, 2024.
Among its recent successful crackdown operations include the uncovering of smuggled disposable vape with approximate value of PhP12.6 million in a vape shop in San Pedro, Laguna, and the seizure of assorted imported vape devices, vape pods, and disposable vapes worth PhP6.475 million, among other illicit items discovered in a separate operation conducted in Quiapo, Manila.
These operations highlight the BOC’s unwavering determination to dismantle the illicit networks behind vape smuggling and the continuous strengthening of its enforcement capabilities. With the support of enhanced intelligence-sharing, the BOC remains vigilant in addressing emerging trends in illicit trade.
With this, the BOC intends to continue fostering regular coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies, private stakeholders to conduct joint operations and continuously advance effective enforcement actions against smuggled vape products.
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