Philippines Seizes $80M in Illegal Vapes Over 10 Months

Nov.19.2024

Philippines Seizes $80M in Illegal Vapes Over 10 Months

The Philippines Bureau of Customs seized approximately $86.5 million worth of vapes during enforcement operations in the first ten months of 2024.

The Philippines Bureau of Customs announced that its ongoing crackdown on smuggled e-cigarette products resulted in the seizure of items valued at $86.5 million during the first ten months of 2024, the Manila Times reported on November 19.

Recent operations included the confiscation of disposable vapes worth $220,000 in Laguna province and various e-cigarette devices, pods, and disposable products valued at $110,000 in Quezon City, Manila.

"These operations highlight the BOC's unwavering determination to dismantle the illicit networks behind vape smuggling and the continuous strengthening of its enforcement capabilities," Customs Chief Bienvenido Rubio said.

He also added that the agency works closely with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and enforcement and intelligence units to do its job.

"With the support of enhanced intelligence-sharing, the BOC remains vigilant in addressing emerging trends in illicit trade," Rubio said.

References:

[1] Seized smuggled vapes hit P5.07B as of October

Also Read:

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

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

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

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

[5] Philippines BIR Launches Nationwide Raid on Illegal E-Cigarette Sellers

[6] Philippines DTI: Unregulated E-cigarette Products Flood Market, Urges Legal Purchases

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

#Asia #Disposable e-cigarettes #Philippines #Customs.

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim

Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim

Italy’s Lazio Regional Administrative Court has dismissed an appeal by Italian Tobacco Manufacturing and Manifattura Italiana Tabacco over the cigarette excise calculation mechanism, upholding the minimum tax burden rules and excluding compensation for smaller tobacco operators.

Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives

U.S. House Defense Bill Includes Pilot Review of Vapes, Nicotine Pouches and Heated Tobacco for Military Smokers

U.S. House Defense Bill Includes Pilot Review of Vapes, Nicotine Pouches and Heated Tobacco for Military Smokers

On July 23, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes Section 707 provisions requiring the Department of Defense to evaluate tobacco use and nicotine alternatives among military personnel. The pilot program would examine products including vapes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products, primarily among active-duty service members who continue using combustible tobacco. The provision is a policy evaluation effort, not an authorization for military vaping promotion or a ban on vape products.

UK Local Council Proposes £5 Refundable Deposit on Vape Devices

UK Local Council Proposes £5 Refundable Deposit on Vape Devices

Norwich City Council is set to debate a proposed vape deposit scheme that would require consumers to pay an extra refundable £5 per device at purchase, with the money returned when the device is handed back, as recent recycling-facility fires, including a major Widnes blaze reportedly very likely caused by a vape, draw greater attention to the risks of improperly discarded lithium-battery devices.

EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections

EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections

An analysis by We Are Innovation says more than 90% of over 82,000 responses to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Tobacco Products Directive revision raised at least one substantial objection to the proposed regulatory direction.

China Tobacco Yunnan Patent Describes Cigar Flavor Granules With Encapsulation Rate Above 77%

China Tobacco Yunnan Patent Describes Cigar Flavor Granules With Encapsulation Rate Above 77%

According to public records from China’s National Intellectual Property Administration, a patent application filed by China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co., Ltd. for “cigar flavor granules” was published on May 12, 2026. The filing proposes purifying an ethanol extract of cigar tobacco leaves using LX-8 macroporous resin, followed by encapsulation with maltodextrin and sucrose fatty acid ester to improve smoking comfort, reduce dryness and enhance aroma release stability in reconstituted tobacco.

From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design

From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design

According to China’s patent office records, a patent owned by China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Corporation (CTHB) for “cigarette paper and a cigarette for microwave heating” was granted on May 19, 2026. The patent describes cigarette paper with an outer wrapping layer, a heating layer, and an isolation heat-conducting layer, allowing it to absorb microwave energy, convert it to heat, and transfer that heat to the aerosol-generating substrate.

Related Topics

HEADLINE News Regulation

Related Read

Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim

Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim

2Firsts Perspectives

U.S. House Defense Bill Includes Pilot Review of Vapes, Nicotine Pouches and Heated Tobacco for Military Smokers

U.S. House Defense Bill Includes Pilot Review of Vapes, Nicotine Pouches and Heated Tobacco for Military Smokers

UK Local Council Proposes £5 Refundable Deposit on Vape Devices

UK Local Council Proposes £5 Refundable Deposit on Vape Devices

EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections

EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections

China Tobacco Yunnan Patent Describes Cigar Flavor Granules With Encapsulation Rate Above 77%

China Tobacco Yunnan Patent Describes Cigar Flavor Granules With Encapsulation Rate Above 77%

From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design

From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design