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

Mar.13.2025

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.

References:

[1] BOC seizes P1.2-B illicit vapes, fake goods in Malabon warehouse

Also Read:

[1] Philippine Customs Seize Billions Worth of Smuggled Items in 2024

[2] BIR Cracks Down on Illegal Cigarette Operations in Philippines

[3] BIR to Intensify Enforcement Against Illegal E-cigarette and Cigarette Trading

[4] Philippine Congress Passes Bill on Tobacco and E-cigarette Tax Adjustments

[5] Philippine Bureau of Customs Destroys Smuggled E-Cigarettes Worth 580,000 USD

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