The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday carried out the destruction of 2,977,925 confiscated smuggled electronic cigarettes, vape components, and accessories, with a total value of PhP3.26 billion, at South Harbor, Manila.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spearheaded the public condemnation of the seized smuggled products.
In 2024, the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila (POM), and the BOC Intelligence Group carried out ten operations in multiple areas of Metro Manila, resulting in the seizure of the said goods.
The outcome of these operations added to the BOC's larger anti-smuggling initiative, which achieved 48 successful operations in 2024, resulting in the seizure of PhP6.658 billion worth of illicit goods.
In the first three months of 2025, the Bureau has already confiscated PhP483.117 million worth of illegal vape products.
President Marcos Jr. expressed concern in his message, revealing that several of the seized smuggled vapes were found to have toxic components.
He emphasized that the packaging of the seized vapes indicates they are likely intended for young consumers.
“Nakakabahala dahil kung titignan natin ‘yung packaging, talagang para sa bata. Kaya ang target market nila ay bata,” said Marcos.
“So unang-una, gusto nilang turuan ma-adik ang mga bata sa vape, tapos delikado pa ‘yung vape dahil may lason ngang nakikita,” he added.
The items were subjected to destruction to guarantee they would not resurface in the market.
Along with BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, the President was joined by several government officials, including Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, and Atty. M. Marcus N. Valdez II, the Supervising Head of the Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products (OSMV), to witness the destruction of the seized products.
Commissioner Rubio stressed the Bureau's intensified actions against the illegal importation of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products.
He further explained that the products destroyed not only violate customs laws but also pose severe health risks to consumers.
