Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on Vape Store Selling Illicit Products

Nov.21.2024

Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on Vape Store Selling Illicit Products

BIR raided a Quezon City vape store offering illicit products through a secret menu. Authorities found unstamped vapes stored in a warehouse and emphasized intensifying efforts against illegal sales.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday raided a vape store in Quezon City that allegedly offered a "secret menu" of illicit vape products, Business Insight reported on November 21.

In a statement released on Wednesday (the 20th), the BIR revealed that the raid led by Director Romeo Lumagui Jr. uncovered that the illicit products listed on the "menu" were not displayed in the store but hidden in a warehouse behind it.

"The vape store displayed legal vape, but once you ask for illicit vape, they will bring the "menu" and get the illicit vape from the bodega," Lumagui said.

In addition, the store was found selling vapes without internal revenue stamps and failing to provide an official receipt for purchases of the illicit products.

The bureau stated that details of the seized products and raided establishments from the nationwide operation are being consolidated.

BIR Commissioner Lumagui emphasized that the agency will intensify its crackdown on sellers of illicit vape products and urged the public to report such retailers or resellers.

References:

[1] BIR raids vape store with secret menu

Also Read:

[1] Philippine Finance Department: Tobacco and E-cigarette Smuggling Costs $900 Million Annually

[2] Philippine BIR to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal E-cigarette Market as Revenue Falls Short

[3] Philippines BIR E-Cigarette Tax Revenue Reaches $17M, Covers Less Than 10-20% of Market

[4] Philippines Seizes $80M in Illegal Vapes Over 10 Months

[5] Philippines BIR seizes over 500 illegal e-cigarette retailers with $3.09 million in tax liabilities

[6] Philippine President invited to international tobacco summit to focus on fight against illicit tobacco trade

#Legislation #Asia #Open system e-cigarettes #Philippines

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