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

Belgium: BAT plans to cut 51 jobs at Groot-Bijgaarden site
Belgium: BAT plans to cut 51 jobs at Groot-Bijgaarden site
British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced plans to cut 51 jobs at its Groot-Bijgaarden facility in Belgium, disclosed during a special works council meeting.
Jan.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report|Reynolds’ 337 Patent Case Ends, but a Harsher 337 Compliance Battle Now Targets the Entire Vape Supply Chain
Special Report|Reynolds’ 337 Patent Case Ends, but a Harsher 337 Compliance Battle Now Targets the Entire Vape Supply Chain
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has terminated Investigation 337-TA-1410 after invalidating key vape patent claims asserted by R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, removing the immediate risk of import bans for dozens of companies. However, a new case—337-TA-1486—has already opened a more consequential legal front, shifting the focus from patent disputes to regulatory compliance across the vape supply chain, including PACT Act reporting, tax compliance, and FDA marketing authorization.
BAT
Mar.11
West Virginia House passes “Vape Safety Act of 2026,” creating licensing and product directory requirements
West Virginia House passes “Vape Safety Act of 2026,” creating licensing and product directory requirements
West Virginia’s House of Delegates passed the Vape Safety Act of 2026, a proposal to tighten oversight of vape and smoke shops through licensing, fees and enforcement. The bill would establish a state directory requiring vape products sold in West Virginia to have FDA marketing authorization or a pending application under FDA review to be listed, and only directory-listed products could be sold starting Sept. 1, 2026 if enacted.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Oklahoma prisons to sell vapes and nicotine pouches to inmates in bid to curb contraband and violence
Oklahoma prisons to sell vapes and nicotine pouches to inmates in bid to curb contraband and violence
Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) will launch a program allowing inmates to buy sealed disposable nicotine vapes and packs of nicotine pouches through prison commissaries. Tobacco has been banned in Oklahoma prisons for 10 years, and cigarettes and cigars will remain prohibited.
Feb.28
BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
British American Tobacco is facing a shareholder lawsuit in London alleging it failed to properly disclose to markets information about breaches of U.S. sanctions linked to its North Korea-related business. BAT agreed in 2023 to pay more than $635 million to U.S. authorities after a subsidiary admitted conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and committing bank fraud from 2007 to 2017.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
BAT CEO Says 2026 Return to Growth Hinges on U.S. Enforcement, Highlights Oral Leadership
BAT CEO Says 2026 Return to Growth Hinges on U.S. Enforcement, Highlights Oral Leadership
British American Tobacco said 2026 will mark a return to its mid-term growth algorithm, but CEO Tadeu Marroco stressed that deliverywill depend heavily on enforcement against illicit vapour products in the United States. Speaking at the FY2025 results call, he positioned Modern Oral as the company’s primary structural growth engine, reframed accelerating cigarette declines through “poly-usage,” and reinforced capital discipline with an expanded share buyback plan.
Feb.12