Philippine Customs Seizes $120M Worth of Smuggled e-Cigarettes

Oct.07.2024
Philippine Customs Seizes $120M Worth of Smuggled e-Cigarettes
Philippine customs seized smuggled e-cigarette products worth 6.5 billion pesos in 11 months, cracking down on illegal activities.

According to a report by Philstar on October 7th, the Philippine customs authorities seized smuggled e-cigarette products worth 6.5 billion pesos (approximately 120 million US dollars) within 11 months.


Leon Mogao Jr., head of the Customs Investigation Department, announced this Saturday (October 5th) that from October 2023 to August of this year, Philippine customs have conducted a total of 36 operations targeting illegal e-cigarette products. These operations were primarily carried out in Manila Port, Manila International Container Port, Clark Port, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport.


Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio pointed out that these achievements demonstrate the agency's commitment to combating smuggling activities and protecting consumers from unregulated and potentially harmful products.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Nature Health Comment Urges Wider Role for Smoke-Free Nicotine Products in Tobacco Control
Nature Health Comment Urges Wider Role for Smoke-Free Nicotine Products in Tobacco Control
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, a Nature Health Comment by Robert Beaglehole, Ruth Bonita and Tikki Pang argues that regulated smoke-free nicotine products could help accelerate the global decline in smoking. The authors propose a “smoke-free 2040” goal and call for risk-proportionate regulation distinguishing cigarettes from lower-risk nicotine alternatives.
News
May.20
Imperial Tobacco Canada Responds to Anti-Smoking Groups on Youth Vaping
Imperial Tobacco Canada Responds to Anti-Smoking Groups on Youth Vaping
Imperial Tobacco Canada responded to the April 17 press conference by anti-smoking groups by calling for a more focused, fact-based discussion on youth vaping that targets the illicit market. The company said youth should not be using nicotine products and that it supports strong measures to prevent youth access, but argued that the discussion failed to clearly distinguish between the regulated market and the illicit market that is driving youth access.
Apr.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Glas Says FDA Scientific Review Backed Several Flavored Products Before Senior Leaders Blocked Them
Glas Says FDA Scientific Review Backed Several Flavored Products Before Senior Leaders Blocked Them
Glas says newly released internal FDA records show agency scientific reviewers supported authorization for several flavored G2 products before senior leadership halted them. According to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, FDA’s Office of Science first recommended marketing authorization for all eight products in December 2025 and later supported six of them in February 2026. FDA ultimately authorized only the G2 device and one tobacco-flavored pod in March.
Apr.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philip Morris Japan Unveils TEREA “Blossom Pearl” for IQOS ILUMA
Philip Morris Japan Unveils TEREA “Blossom Pearl” for IQOS ILUMA
Philip Morris Japan announced that it will launch “TEREA Blossom Pearl,” a new tobacco stick for IQOS ILUMA, on May 11. The new product will expand the TEREA lineup to 27 variants. It features a capsule menthol flavor with strawberry and subtle herbal notes and is priced at JPY 620, or about USD 4.14 based on an assumed rate of 1 JPY = 0.00668 USD. The exchange-rate source should be verified and added.
Apr.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Al Fakher Parent AIR Advances U.S. Listing Plan, With Deal Expected in First Half of 2026
Al Fakher Parent AIR Advances U.S. Listing Plan, With Deal Expected in First Half of 2026
AIR Limited and Cantor Equity Partners III, Inc. announced that AIR and AIR Holdings Limited have filed a Form F-4 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with their previously announced proposed business combination. Upon closing, the combined company, AIR Global PLC, is expected to be listed on Nasdaq in the United States under the ticker symbol “AIIR.”
Mar.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Exclusive | China Starts Mandatory National Standards Process for Heated Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
Exclusive | China Starts Mandatory National Standards Process for Heated Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
China has launched mandatory national standards work for heated cigarettes and nicotine pouches, further formalizing regulation of both categories. The move may help lay groundwork for future market entry, but does not signal imminent domestic commercialization.
Apr.15