P250K worth of smuggled, unregistered vape products seized in Manila

Authorities seized P250,000 worth of smuggled and unregistered vape devices and juices from two separate stores in the City of Manila.

According to John Consulta’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Monday, the operation stemmed from the surveillance and test-buy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the two stores. 

“This particular vape device that they’re selling pwede mo siya lagyan ng carabinoid or whatever chemicals, dangerous drugs, without us knowing, especially the parents, they would just think na yung anak lang is nagve-vape lang, without knowing na nalululong na ito sa ilegal na droga,”    said NBI Dangerous Drugs Division chief Ross Jonathan Galicia. 

(This particular vape device that they’re selling, you can put cannabinoid or whatever chemicals, dangerous drugs, in it, without us knowing, especially the parents, they would just think that the child is just vaping, without knowing that they are already getting addicted to illegal drugs.) 

Galicia added that the 800 confiscated products are not registered with the Department of Trade and Industry which means that they failed the DTI's safety and quality evaluation. 

The owner of the two stores have yet to give a comment on the matter. The NBI said that the former will face charges for violation of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, and the Consumer Act of the Philippines. 

GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to the arrested employee who is now under NBI’s custody. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News