Over 400 boxes of alleged illegal vape products seized in Bulacan house

More than 400 boxes filled with alleged illegal vape products, with tax liabilities amounting to P540 million, was seized in a house in Marilao, Bulacan on Thursday night.

Joint forces from the Cybercrime Division of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) raided the house, which authorities found storing the illicit items.

“Malinaw na walang (tax) stamps itong mga produkto na ito kaya malinaw na ilegal ang mga vape product na ito,” said BIR commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.  

(It is clear that the products don’t have tax stamps, so it is clear that these vape products are illegal.)

The quality of the illegal vape products, he also noted, cannot be assured since the items were not thoroughly inspected and cleared to be sold in markets by the Department of Trade and Industry.

NBI Cybercrime Division Executive Officer Atty. Van Angluben said they raided the house after tracing the source of illegal vape products sold online.

“We have been monitoring the rampant selling ng ganitong klaseng produkto. Through the small-time sellers, na-trace natin kung saan ‘yung source nitong produkto na ito,” he said.

(We have been monitoring the rampant selling of these types of products. Through the small-time sellers, we traced the source of these products.)

But only the female caretaker was in the house when authorities conducted the raid.

“Hindi ko po alam…Ako po, wala akong alam diyan,” the caretaker answered when asked by NBI operatives about the boxes of illicit vape products stored in the garage of the house.

(I don’t know…But I don’t know anything about that.)

Despite this, Lumagui said, authorities are still going after the house owner and the retailers of the illegal vape products.

“Kakasuhan natin dahil kailangan natin ipakita na dapat hindi tayo nag-iimbak at nagbebenta ng illicit vape products,” he added.

(We will file cases, because we need to show them that storing and selling illicit vape products are not allowed.)

They will face complaints for violating the BIR tax code, particularly tax evasion and unlawful possession of excisable items without payment of excise tax.

Authorities are still investigating the source of the illegal vape products, and if other houses are storing the said illicit items.—AOL, GMA Integrated News