Valenzuela City authorities led agents of the Bureau of Customs to a warehouse containing more or less P1.428 billion worth of illegally imported e-cigarettes or vapes.

In an inspection over the weekend, BOC operatives found more or less 14,000 boxes containing an estimated 1.4 million pieces of 10ml disposable vapes.

Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio explained that the estimated value of the products is 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.

"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," Rubio said.

"We received information last October 24, 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 for 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 (ESS-POM), and BOC's Legal Service, coordinated with the Northern Police District before proceeding to Barangay Canumay West.

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 (CMTA).

"We're all probably aware, and have seen viral videos, of vapes suddenly exploding. Beyond the illegality of these smuggling activities, what concerns us more is the danger posed by these products to unwitting customers," Uy said.

"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.