P1.43B vapes seized in Valenzuela
Bureau of Customs agents seized around P1.428 billion worth of e-cigarettes or vapes from a Valenzuela warehouse over the weekend.
Daily TribuneBureau of Customs agents seized around P1.428 billion worth of e-cigarettes or vapes from a Valenzuela warehouse over the weekend.
Found inside the warehouse located at 18 Bagong Filipino Industrial Compound, M. Gregorio Street, Canumay West, Valenzuela City, were more or less 14,000 boxes containing an estimated 1.4 million pieces of 10ml disposable vape bearing the mark FLAVA.
Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio explained that the P1.428 billion amount is the total aggregate value of the more or less 1.4 million pieces of 10ml disposable vape with an estimated value of P700 million at P500 per piece and the P728 million worth of excise tax based on the P52 excise tax per 1 ml of e-cigarette or vape.
"So, remember that we have an excise tax currently being imposed on tobacco products? That's why the value of this operation ballooned to more than P1 billion. These kinds of activities do not only adversely impact our local tobacco industry, but it also takes away from the government a sizeable chunk of money that we can use for our infrastructure programs, social services," he said.
The operation was given the green light by Commissioner Rubio himself through a Letter of Authority issued on Thursday, 26 October 2023 based on the information received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service.
"We received information last 24 October 2023 that a warehouse in Valenzuela City is being utilized as storage of voluminous illegally imported e-cigarettes or vape products without proper payment of correct duties and taxes," CIIS Director Verne Enciso said.
After verifying the information and identifying the warehouses, the CIIS requested the issuance of the LOA, which would demand the warehouse owner/representative to show proof of payment of duties and taxes and other importation documents, as needed, that would cover the goods found inside the warehouse.
The team, composed of CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service-Port of Manila, and BoC's Legal Service, coordinated with the Northern Police District before proceeding to Barangay Canumay West.
Upon arrival in the warehouse, the LOA was received by a certain Merrill Opena, operations outsourced head of the said warehouse.
Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said that the warehouse owners and representatives would be given a period of time to present the proper documents and proof of taxes paid.
Without these documents, they would face possible violations of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
"We're all probably aware, and have seen viral videos, of vapes exploding. Beyond the illegality of these smuggling activities, what concerns us more is the danger posed by these products to unwitting customers," he added.
"We're not just here to stop the illegal entry of these kinds of products because of the taxes we're losing, but one of our primary missions is to intercept products that could pose a serious health risk to consumers," the deputy commissioner stressed.