On December 3, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) of the Philippines reported that, following a month-long crackdown on illegal e-cigarette retailers and distributors, a total of 817 shops were raided. During the operation, 563,284 e-cigarette products were seized, with a total tax amount of approximately PHP 415 million (about $7.1 million), including fines.
These figures cover raids conducted from October 16 to November 22 of this year. Common violations included the absence of internal tax stamps, failure to pay excise taxes, and unregistered e-cigarette brands.
Earlier, BIR conducted a raid in Quezon City at a vape shop offering illegal e-cigarettes through a "secret menu," where customers could browse and order products from the store's back warehouse.
Additionally, BIR has received complaints about illegal online sales of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. The report indicates that, due to BIR’s regular raids on warehouses and physical stores, some retailers and distributors have shifted to selling e-cigarettes online.
"All online platforms and e-marketplaces should not offer for sale all illicit vape. Take them down. Block the online sellers from doing business in your platforms. Check for other keywords or phrases that these criminals use to hide or mask what they are really selling in your platforms," Lumagui said.
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