The aggressive anti-smuggling operations against vape products by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) led to another seizure of P1.073 billion worth of smuggled vapes and used clothes during Friday’s series of raids on some Malabon City warehouses.
Bureau of Customs (BOC) operatives earlier seized smuggled vapes worth P3.72 billion during raids on several warehouses in Malabon and Parañaque cities.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said around 20 warehouses located along 67 Gov. Pascual St. in Barangay Potrero were initially identified as storage facilities for vape products smuggled from China.
“Our operations against these smuggling groups will not stop until they are all held liable for their crimes. This recent enforcement of our laws sends a clear message that these activities will not go unchecked on our watch,” Rubio stressed.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso also cited the importance of these operations amid the agency’s anti-smuggling efforts.
“Our officers have remained vigilant in their enforcement efforts to prevent the entry of smuggled products into our country. The operations these past couple of days show how serious we are in the CIIS to disrupt the flow of these activities and stop them at all cost,” he said.
According to Enciso, the initial inspection of the location revealed a total of 20 warehouses, and the CIIS team was able to open one warehouse where they found 8,400 boxes of Flava-branded vapes valued at P462 million.
Adding the P520 excise tax that the government must collect for every vape unit, the total aggregate value of the vape products was placed at P898.8 million.
Enciso said 15 other warehouses yielded branded and unbranded shoes, hardware supplies, ukay-ukay or used clothing, unbranded clothes, and household items, among others, with an estimated value of P174.2 million This brought the total aggregated value of the confiscated goods from the 16 warehouses to P1.073 billion, Enciso said.
Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said contents of the remaining three warehouses will be inventoried later on.
The warehousemen were reminded that they have 15 days to provide proof of payment of duties and taxes covering the goods stored and found.
Among the seized items were during the raids in Malabon and Paranaque were 1.5 million pieces of disposable vapes with the brand name Flava and 1.98 million vapes.
In Parañaque, around 15,000 boxes of vapes were found in a warehouse in the Olivares compound, containing 100 pieces per box, Enciso said.
He said the current market value of vape is P500 per piece, and that would total to P750 million, “add to that the excise tax that should be collected, and the total estimated sum up value would be P1.53 billion.”
Enciso said these e-cigarettes were only discovered in one of the warehouses in Parañaque City and that other warehouses are still being examined.
In Malabon, the BOC found a warehouse storing nearly 19,800 boxes each containing 100 pieces of smuggled vapes or a total of 1.98 million pieces.
With the price marked at P550 for each e-cigarette, the total market value would be at P1.089 billion, while the excise tax would amount to P1,029,600,000, the Customs said.
This would translate to a total worth of P2,118,600,000 for smuggled vape products in Malabon alone.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring
(the) smugglers to justice,” BOC chief Bienvenido Rubio said.
The BOC also reaffirmed its commitment to combating illegal drug trafficking after successfully intercepting a shipment containing over P76 million worth of high-grade dried marijuana or "kush" at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
“Over the past year, the BOC has consistently demonstrated dedication in thwarting the infiltration of controlled substances across our borders,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.
“The commendable success of this operation sends a resounding message that we will not be stopped in our fight to protect the nation from the dangers of illegal drugs,” he added.
The BOC, through the Manila International Container Port (MICP), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), intercepted a shipment from Thailand containing dried marijuana or kush with an estimated value of P76 million found inside five balikbayan boxes, consisting of two smaller boxes.
The CIIS of the MICP received derogatory information pertaining to a certain shipment that allegedly contained illegal drugs and misdeclared or under-declared items. Following the report received, MICP District Collector Romeo Rosales immediately issued an alert order against the reported shipment.
The subject shipment underwent a 100 percent physical examination on Feb. 27, revealing approximately 63,360 grams of dried marijuana or kush that has a standard drug price of P1,200 per gram, according to the PDEA.