By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Customs officers padlocked a warehouse in Valenzuela City which was found to be storing some PHP1.18 billion worth of purportedly smuggled vapes, vape pods and other products.
In a news release Friday, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) team also found “ukay-ukay” (used clothing), handheld and desk fans, phone chargers, Chinese food items, wireless headsets, disposable syringes, office chairs, wall panels, and other assorted merchandise during the operation on Thursday.
“We are seeing many Filipinos, especially the younger generations, shift to vapes from traditional tobacco products. 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,” he said.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso said the seized vapes, used clothing, and fake goods stored in the Valenzuela warehouse came from China.
Enciso said the vape products were estimated to be worth PHP320.06 million while the ukay-ukay products and other items were valued at about PHP860 million.
The warehouse and shop owners can face charges for violating Section 117 (regulated importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture).
They will also face charges under Republic Act 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, Republic Act 10963, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN Law), and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Board Resolution No. 079-2005 (amended rules and regulations governing the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products). (PNA)
