SMUGGLED. Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service - Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) inspect one of the Malabon warehouses that yielded illegally imported e-cigarettes or vapes from China on Thursday (Feb. 29, 2024). The inspections in the cities of Malabon and Parañaque yielded a total of PHP3.72 billion worth of smuggled vapes. (Photo courtesy of BOC)
MANILA – Authorities discovered about PHP3.72 billion worth of smuggled vapes (e-cigarettes) from China during inspections of several warehouses in the cities of Parañaque and Malabon, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Friday.
In a statement, the BOC said agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) served letters of authority (LOA) to the warehouses on Thursday.
“This is an ongoing, an active investigation and inspection. We are not yet done examining these warehouses, but we will be able to determine at the soonest time possible the exact amount of smuggled vapes they contain,” he said in a statement.
BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso said the warehouse located in Olivares Compound, San Dionisio, Parañaque City was found with an estimated 1.5 million pieces of “Flava” e-cigarettes in assorted flavors.
“To be more precise, there were around 15,000 boxes of vapes, with 100 pieces per box. That’s a total of 1.5 million pieces of vapes. The current market value is PHP500 per piece, so that’s a total of PHP750 million. Add to that the excise tax that should be collected, and the total estimated sum-up value would be PHP1.53 billion,” Enciso said.
He added that the excise tax is worth PHP520 per 10 ml. or one piece, which means the government should have collected about PHP780 million from the 1.5 million pieces of smuggled vapes.
The BOC-CIIS also has an ongoing inspection of some warehouses located in Superb Catch, Inc., Compound 46, Hernandez Street, Barangay Catmon, Malabon City where one warehouse yielded more or less 19,800 boxes, with 100 pieces of vapes per box, during an initial inventory.
Enciso added that at PHP550 each, the 1.98 million pieces of vape have a total market value of PHP1.089 billion. In addition, PHP520 worth of excise tax per item should have been collected for a total of PHP1.029 billion.
He noted that the market value and the excise tax of the smuggled vape products totaled PHP2.118 billion.
The team also found a temporary unplugged cold storage unit being used as a storage facility to contain a still undetermined quantity of vape products and a wing van truck unloading stocks of vape products during the inspection.
P1-M smuggled cigarettes seized in Davao
Meanwhile, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized nearly PHP1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate operations in Davao on Feb. 27.
In a statement Friday, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., said the operating teams confiscated a total of PHP998,700 worth of smuggled cigarettes from suspects identified as 54-year-old alias “Alih” and 38-year-old alias “Jay.”
“Alih” was nabbed by the CIDG Davao Oriental in Barangay Dawan, Mati City, Davao Oriental while alias “Jay” was apprehended by CIDG Davao City Field Unit in Barangay 5-A, Bankerohan Public Market, Davao City.
All confiscated pieces of evidence were properly inventoried and witnessed by officials of their respective barangay of arresting CIDG units.
The suspects would face charges for violations of Republic Act (RA) 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings Law) and RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act). (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
