President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, April 7, 2025, led the public condemnation of 2,977,925 pieces of seized smuggled electronic cigarettes, vape parts, and accessories valued at P3.26 billion. The event at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in South Harbor, Manila, underscores the administration’s strong commitment to combating illicit trade and protecting public health.
Joining the President was BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, who emphasized the Bureau’s intensified operations against the illegal importation of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products.
“These products violate customs laws and pose serious risks to consumer health. Today’s condemnation is a clear message to smugglers that the government is relentless in its pursuit of lawful trade,” said Commissioner Rubio.
Key officials witnessed the condemnation, including the Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF), the Honorable Ralph G. Recto, and the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Honorable Ma. 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).
The seized goods resulted from ten operations conducted throughout 2024 across various areas in Metro Manila. These were led by the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila (POM), and the BOC Intelligence Group, who played a crucial role in identifying and intercepting the illegal shipments.
These ten operations yielded PhP3.26 billion worth of smuggled vape products. They contribute to the BOC’s larger anti-smuggling campaign, which recorded 48 successful operations in 2024, resulting in the seizure of P6.658 billion worth of illicit goods. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the Bureau has already intercepted an additional P483.117 million worth of illegal vape products.
The BOC’s success is anchored on a multi-pronged strategy that includes local and international collaboration, advanced intelligence gathering through its Risk Management and Cargo Targeting Systems, the legal enforcement of Letters of Authority under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and stricter port control measures.
This initiative is also aligned with Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which mandates the regulation and taxation of such products.
Under the President’s guidance, the BOC and other government agencies continue to prioritize actions that directly benefit Filipino citizens, including their health, safety, and the integrity of the economy.