Philippines Seizes $21 Million in Counterfeit Goods, Including Kylinbar E-Cigarettes

Mar.13.2025
Philippines Seizes $21 Million in Counterfeit Goods, Including Kylinbar E-Cigarettes
Philippine Customs has sealed a warehouse holding counterfeit goods, including Kylinbar disposable e-cigarettes, valued at approximately 1.2 billion pesos ($21 million). The warehouse operator could face charges.

Key Points:

 

1. A warehouse in the Philippines was raided and found to contain $12 billion pesos ($210 million) worth of suspected illegal e-cigarettes and counterfeit goods.

 

2. The products seized involved the Kylinbar brand of disposable e-cigarettes.

 

3. The warehouse management party may face legal charges if they fail to provide legal import documentation within 15 days.

 


 

2Firsts, reporting from Shenzhen - The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized a warehouse in Malabon City, allegedly storing approximately 1.2 billion pesos ($21 million) worth of suspicious illegal e-cigarettes and counterfeit goods.

 

Bienvenido Rubio, the Customs Commissioner, stated at a press conference on Wednesday that the items seized included disposable e-cigarettes, shoes, bags, and cosmetics.

 

Verne Enciso, Director of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), said that upon receiving authorization from the Customs Director, they immediately went to a warehouse in Malabon City. 

 

The CIIS team and investigators from the Manila International Container Port (MICP) found disposable e-cigarettes from Kylinbar in the warehouse without labels from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

 

The investigation team temporarily sealed the warehouse and planed to conduct an inventory of the items with customs inspectors, CIIS, the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and warehouse representatives. 

 

Warehouse operators were required to provide documents proving the legal acquisition and tax payment of imported goods within 15 days of receiving the authorization letter, or face potential charges under Articles 1113, 117, and 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)


They may also face charges under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or Republic Act 8293.

 

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

NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs data show U.S. smokeless nicotine product sales rose more than 8% year over year in the 52 weeks ended May 30, making it the only major nicotine category to record growth.
Market
Jun.23
Product | Geek Bar BURJ 80K Extends High-Puff Competition Into Hookah-Style DTL Use
Product | Geek Bar BURJ 80K Extends High-Puff Competition Into Hookah-Style DTL Use
2Firsts has noted that Geek Bar has added BURJ to its official product portfolio under the E-HOOKAH category. Public information shows that BURJ 80K is a hookah-style disposable vape featuring a 25ml e-liquid capacity, a 1500mAh battery, 0.4Ω dual coils and three operating modes: ECO, Regular and Pulse. According to publicly available product information, the device is rated for up to 80,000 puffs in ECO mode and uses a nicotine strength of 0.5% (5mg/ml).
Market
May.29
Illicit Vape and Nicotine Pouch Seizures Concentrated in UK Hotspots, New Data Shows
Illicit Vape and Nicotine Pouch Seizures Concentrated in UK Hotspots, New Data Shows
Freedom of Information (FOI) data from the UK shows that more than 3,000 seizures of illegal nicotine products were recorded in the 2024/25 financial year, with Hull, Liverpool and Bolton emerging as the most active enforcement hotspots — highlighting that the problem of illicit vapes, nicotine pouches and smokeless tobacco products persists across many parts of the country.
Jun.16
Charlie’s Plans Q3 2026 Pilot of America’s First Age-Gated Flavored Disposable Vape
Charlie’s Plans Q3 2026 Pilot of America’s First Age-Gated Flavored Disposable Vape
U.S. vape company Charlie’s Holdings announced plans to pilot its age-gated flavored disposable vape products in hundreds of retail stores during the third quarter of 2026. The company said the products will utilize AI- and blockchain-powered age-verification technology designed to address FDA concerns over youth access and potentially create a new compliance pathway for flavored vape products.
Jun.15
 BAT Bangladesh Cigarette Sales Fall 14%, Q1 Profit Drops 34%
BAT Bangladesh Cigarette Sales Fall 14%, Q1 Profit Drops 34%
British American Tobacco Bangladesh reported a 14% year-on-year decline in cigarette sales volume and a 34% drop in first-quarter profit, highlighting mounting pressure from inflation, taxation, and weakening consumer spending in Bangladesh.
News
May.18
Product | JT Upgrades with2 Infused Tobacco Capsules With Double-Size BIG PACK
Product | JT Upgrades with2 Infused Tobacco Capsules With Double-Size BIG PACK
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) announced that it will introduce a BIG PACK version of all five tobacco capsule variants designed for its with2 infused tobacco system. Scheduled for release in Japan on August 4, 2026, the refreshed packaging doubles the contents from five capsules and one cartridge to ten capsules and two cartridges while maintaining the same flavors and formulations
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives