Customs seize P791-M worth of illegal cigarettes, vapes from SG

The Bureau of Customs - Manila International Container Port on Tuesday seized three containers of illegal cigarettes and vape products from Singapore with an estimated amount of P791 million.

BOC said the shipment consigned to Burias Jang Consumer Goods Trading was initially declared to contain 3,845 tobacco products when it arrived last May 11, but the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service received “derogatory information” on the said shipment.

Customs later discovered that the shipment actually contained 4,215 master cases of cigarettes and 1,053 master cases of heat sticks.

The bureau also flagged that the illicit cigarettes and vape products of various brands do not have graphic health warnings on their packaging, which is a violation of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act of 2022.

Further, BOC said the consignee is not a registered importer of tobacco and other tobacco related products upon verification with the National Tobacco Administration.

The consignors and consignees could face charges for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the BOC said.

It added that they will face charges for violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, and the NTA Board Resolution No. 079-2005, which covers rules and regulations on the exportation and importation of tobacco products.—RF, GMA Integrated News