According to Manila Standard's report on July 18, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines announced that Director Romeo Lumagui Jr. personally led the seizure of an automated vending machine selling FLAVA brand e-cigarette products. The brand had previously been ordered to cease operations by the agency.
According to reports, the closure stemmed from a report by a netizen on the official Lumagui Facebook page.
During the raid, it was discovered that FLAVA e-cigarette products were being sold at a price of 500 pesos each ($8.57).
The organization stated that the situation is concerning because illegal e-cigarette products are openly being sold in the building, and just steps away from this building are a gym, dance studio, gymnastics studio, basketball court, coffee shop and bakery, laundry, drinking water station, and restaurant. BIR pointed out that children may purchase FLAVA e-cigarettes due to vending machines being accessible to the public.
The commissioner stated that
Selling illegal e-cigarettes is against the law, whether it is done through vending machines or online stores. BIR will seize and crack down on any illegal e-cigarette products. We would like to thank the individual who reported a vending machine on my official Facebook page approximately two weeks ago. This morning, we sealed the vending machine. BIR welcomes all reports of illegal e-cigarette activities. Rest assured, we will take action against all verified targets.
In March 2023, the BIR conducted a raid on a warehouse in Laguna storing illegal FLAVA e-cigarette products. The raid resulted in the seizure of 1,029 large boxes, equivalent to 102,900 e-cigarettes.
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