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

Oct.07.2024

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.

References:

[1] P6.5 billion vapes seized in 11 months

Also Read:

[1] Revised Regulations on Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Vaping Products

[2] Philippine Airline bans Chinese passenger for smoking on flight

[3] Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue Raises Tobacco Prices Mandate

[4] DTI Initiates Legal Action Against Four E-Cigarette Brands Including RELX, Flare

[5] DTI-FTEB and PNP-CIDG Joint Operation in Tondo District

[6] Massive Smuggling Bust by Philippine Customs Authorities in Manila

[7] DTI Suspends Sales of 5 E-cigarette Brands in Philippines, Including LOST MARY, Chillax, SHFTDr.Freeze, Aerogin, Don Bars, Black Elite

[8] New Guidelines for Handling Seized Goods by Philippines Tax Bureau

#E-cigarettes #Asia #Philippines #Customs

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

Products | VAPORESSO Unveils Two New 10 mL Pod Devices for UK and US E-Commerce Channels

VAPORESSO has recently launched two new open-system vaping devices. The XROS 5 Nano is the first to roll out across UK and US online channels, featuring 30W output and a touch-screen design, while the ECO NANO Plus has gone live on the brand’s official website with a 10 mL high-capacity pod and a 1400 mAh battery.

Nov.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai

China’s E-Cigarette Exports USD 1.096 billion in November, UK and South Korea Offset U.S. Decline

China’s e-cigarette exports edged lower in November 2025, totaling USD 1.096 billion, down 0.2% month-on-month, as a decline in shipments to the United States was partially offset by stronger demand from the United Kingdom, Germany and South Korea, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China.

Dec.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Tennessee Cracks Down on Vaping: 10 % Tax Hike, Expanded Enforcement Powers, Mandatory ID Checks at Every Retail Counter

New Tennessee laws passed this year impose a 10 % tax on vaping products, empower the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to conduct compliance inspections, and set steep fines for retailers who sell to minors. Yet, with no statewide retail-licensing scheme for e-cigarettes, enforcing the penalties remains problematic. Meanwhile, stores in cities like Jackson have voluntarily stepped up ID scanning and product tracking to help the rules take hold.

Dec.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Smoore and EVE Energy Sign Procurement Framework Agreement Covering 2026–2028 Cell Supply

Smoore and EVE Energy have signed a procurement framework agreement for 2026–2028, under which Smoore Group will continue purchasing battery cells and related products. The agreement sets no specific transaction amount; actual figures will be determined by future orders, reflecting both parties’ intention to secure and extend their supply chain cooperation over the next three years.