BOC seizes P1.2 billion vapes, used clothing

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs confiscated P320 million worth of disposable vapes and other vape products “smuggled from China” that were stored in a warehouse in Valenzuela City, the BOC said yesterday.

It also seized an estimated P860 million worth of “ukay-ukay” or used clothing, handheld and desk fans, phone chargers, Chinese food items, wireless headsets, disposable syringes, office chairs, wall panels and other assorted merchandise.

In a statement, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) discovered at the warehouse vapes and pods valued at P320 million.

Rubio warned the public, particularly young people, not to patronize vape products that have not been declared safe by the government. 

“We are seeing many Filipinos shift to vapes from traditional tobacco products... I’d like to reiterate to our kababayans that it is dangerous to use vape products, especially if they haven’t gone through regulatory testing and procedures. Using smuggled vapes can put your health at risk,” Rubio said.

He added that the CIIS-MICP team, which also discovered the used clothing and other products from China, had the warehouse sealed and padlocked.

Rubio said the BOC would “continue to implement stringent enforcement measures to safeguard consumers, businesses and national revenue.“

Juvymax Uy, deputy commissioner for the BOC intelligence group, warned consumers against buying smuggled products as these could be “unsafe and could become a health risk.”

Uy said warehouse and shop owners, if unable to present importation documents, could face charges for violating Section 117 (regulated importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture).

He said they could also face charges for violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, among others.