BOC seizes almost P137-M worth of smuggled vape products

MANILA, Philippines — Smuggled vape products worth approximately P137 million were seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Manila International Container Port, the agency said on Wednesday.

According to the BOC, a 100 percent physical examination was done on nine containers upon the issuance of Alert Orders. Authorities then discovered that vape products with a value of P136,924,250 were misdeclared as various goods.

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“The shipments originated from China and were declared as cardboard boxes, accessories, packaging bags, kitchenware, underwear, clothes hangers, shoe boxes, and footwear. Physical examination, however, revealed substantial quantities of misdeclared vape and vape-related products that were inconsistent with the shipments’ declared descriptions,” the BOC said in a press release.

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The BOC also said that representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Bureau of Investigation participated in the verification and assessment of products in line with existing laws and policies.

READ: BOC seizes over P1.17-B suspected smuggled cigarettes in Cebu port

With this operation, the BOC said that the agency will continue to enforce customs law to intercept illegal trade of vape products in the country, emphasizing their harmful effects on public health.

“We will not overlook the smuggling of these products to the country. There is a clear government regulation for vape products, and those who are planning to neglect it will face consequences. We will continue to strengthen the security of ports to protect the public, legitimate businesses, and public funds in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” BOC commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said in the same press release. /cb

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