The Bureau of Customs (BoC) announced Thursday the seizure of P40.5 million worth of misdeclared vape products at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

Key officials — led by Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla, Deputy Commissioner Romeo Rosales and District Collector Rizalino Torralba — conducted an inspection of the seized shipments which originated from China and were falsely declared as kitchenware.

Hold Orders for the shipments were issued as early as January 2025, following derogatory information received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)-MICP. A 100 percent physical examination conducted on 14 July led to the discovery of 81,000 pieces of assorted vape products, along with sacks of fully refined paraffin wax and other misdeclared items.

Warrants of Seizure and Detention were issued on 23 July 2025. The shipments are now undergoing forfeiture proceedings for violations of Sections 117, 1400, 1401, and 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), Republic Act 11900 (the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act), and relevant Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regulations.

The BoC is also building a case to identify and prosecute those responsible, ensuring full accountability under the law.

Nepomuceno stressed the importance of vigilance in addressing unlawful importation.

“Our operations are anchored on a whole-of-agency approach that prioritizes intelligence, swift execution, and legal action against those who attempt to evade customs laws,” the commissioner said.

Meantime, Torralba reiterated the port’s commitment to enforcement.

“Smuggling operations involving vape products pose significant health and economic risks. The MICP fully supports Commissioner Ariel in safeguarding our borders and ensuring that only lawful and properly declared goods enter the country,” Torralba said.

Advancing Marcos’s vision of secure and transparent trade, the BoC is intensifying enforcement efforts through stronger inter-agency coordination and data-driven risk management.