NBI seizes over P30 million worth of unregistered vapes in Laguna

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized over P30 million worth of unregistered vape products in Laguna, bureau director Jaime Santiago said Tuesday.

“Hindi registered. Substandard. Walang permit. Pati ‘yung bahay na ginawang bodega, walang permit sa Sta. Rosa,” Santiago said in a press briefing.

(These were not registered. Substandard. No permits. Even the warehouse did not have a permit in Sta. Rosa.)

According to the NBI, undercover agents met with three sellers, who led them to a storage facility located in a residential area to complete the transaction.

Once there, they showed the products, consisting of 40,500 pieces of vape worth P31.9 million and 3,880 pieces of vape pods worth P640,200.

The three individuals were then arrested for violating the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

They have been presented for inquest proceedings, according to the NBI.

Meanwhile, Santiago advised the public to refrain from buying products from random outlets.

“Isang paraan, ‘wag kayo bumili sa mga basta-basta lang na outlet. Pumunta kayo sa mall kasi sa mall, hindi pumapayag ang malalaking mall na magkaroon ng stall doon na ang binebenta ay illegal,” he said.

(One way is to avoid buying from just any random outlet. Go to the mall because major malls do not allow stalls that sell illegal goods.)

For its part, the Department of Trade and Industry said that illicit vape products can be identified through a lack of license marks as well as tax stamps or required fiscal marks from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The DTI said illicit vape products may also have flavors that unduly appeal to minors and improper 50% graphic health warning. —KG, GMA Integrated News