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

Special Report|AIR H1 Revenue Rises 3.7% as Shisha Volumes Fall 9%, Testing Its Shift Beyond Traditional Hookah
Special Report|AIR H1 Revenue Rises 3.7% as Shisha Volumes Fall 9%, Testing Its Shift Beyond Traditional Hookah
AIR’s first half-year results as a listed company offer a new test of how far a traditional hookah business can transform. H1 2026 revenue rose 3.7%, even as Flavored Shisha Molasses shipments fell 9%, with pricing and mix supporting growth. Traditional shisha still generates almost all revenue, while OOKA, Crown Switch, Greentank and U.S. regulatory spending point to accelerating diversification. The next test is whether those investments can become a second business of meaningful scale and profitability.
Capital Markets
Aug.21
2Firsts Data|China’s Vape-Related Exports Rose 3.3% in August 2026 as UK Shipments Jumped 51.4% and U.S. Exports Fell 12.4%
2Firsts Data|China’s Vape-Related Exports Rose 3.3% in August 2026 as UK Shipments Jumped 51.4% and U.S. Exports Fell 12.4%
China exported $979 million of vape-related products in August 2026, up 3.3% from a year earlier but down 6.4% from July. The UK replaced the U.S. as the main source of growth: UK-bound shipments jumped 51.4% to a 2026 high of $177 million, while exports to the U.S. fell 12.4% to $339 million. Shipments to markets outside the U.S. increased 14.2%, broadening growth beyond the market that had driven July’s rebound.
News
Sep.23 by 2Firsts Perspectives
China’s HTP Exports Fell 14.3% in H1 2026 as Russia and Belarus Accounted for 76% Lead
China’s HTP Exports Fell 14.3% in H1 2026 as Russia and Belarus Accounted for 76% Lead
In H1 2026, China’s HS 24041100 exports stood at $1.32 million, down 14.3% YoY, with volume falling 17.2% to 55.33 tons. Market distribution shifted drastically amid overall export drops. Exports to Russia and Belarus totaled $1 million, taking 76.0% of all shipments versus 29.5% in H1 2025. Belarus became the top destination with export value jumping 177.5%, while the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia’s combined share slumped from 49.3% to 11.2%.Domestically, Yunnan led exporter registrations; Jiangsu and Shanghai were key suppliers, yet Anhui and Sichuan had no exports. Heavy concentration means order or declaration changes for Russia/Belarus greatly affect national aggregate data. The data shows customs entry points (not end markets), covering tobacco consumables only, excluding heating equipment and the complete HTP supply chain.
Aug.11
From Nicotine Salts to Cocrystals: China’s Shenzhen Huabao institute explores a more stable form for sustained nicotine release
From Nicotine Salts to Cocrystals: China’s Shenzhen Huabao institute explores a more stable form for sustained nicotine release
China-based Shenzhen Huabao Collaborative Innovation Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. has filed a patent application for a nicotine-ascorbic acid cocrystal, exploring a new solid-state form of nicotine. The patent proposes applications across e-liquids, heated tobacco sticks, oral tobacco, chewing tobacco and snuff. In nicotine pouch tests disclosed in the filing, cocrystal formulations showed less than a 6% decline in nicotine content after three months of accelerated storage and a release profile combining early-stage release with sustained delivery over 60 minutes. The filing reflects exploration of nicotine forms beyond conventional nicotine base and nicotine salts.
Aug.13
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape-Related Exports Rise 16.5% in July 2026 as U.S.-Bound Shipments Jump 53.5%
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape-Related Exports Rise 16.5% in July 2026 as U.S.-Bound Shipments Jump 53.5%
China’s vape-related exports reached $1.047 billion in July 2026, up 16.5% year on year and the highest monthly total of the year. Growth was heavily concentrated in the U.S., where exports jumped 53.5% to $404 million and accounted for 94.9% of the overall increase. Exports to all other markets rose just 1.2%. By category, nicotine-containing non-combustible products—primarily vapes—under HS24041200 rose 24.7% and generated 95.5% of the total increase. Vape-device exports under HS85434000 fell 0.4%, while other nicotine-substitute products under HS24041990 grew 88.9% but remained comparatively small.
DATA
Aug.24
IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
Philip Morris International’s IQOS has entered the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for the first time, ranking No. 74 with a brand value of $36.634 billion and becoming one of only three newcomers to the 2026 ranking. Kantar said the combined value of the Global Top 100 reached $13.1 trillion, up 22% year on year, while the threshold for entry rose to a record high. PMI says IQOS has more than 35 million users worldwide and surpassed $10 billion in annual net revenues within a decade of launch.
Sep.03