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

Mar.13

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

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

Sweden on Track to Become Europe’s First Smoke-Free Nation as Snus and Nicotine Pouches Support Declining Smoking Rates

According to Gulf News, Sweden is nearing the World Health Organization’s smoke-free threshold, with daily smoking falling below 5%. Two decades of public health efforts and the growing use of lower-risk alternatives such as Snus and tobacco-free nicotine pouches have contributed to this shift, alongside declines in tobacco-related deaths and lung cancer cases.

Dec.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai

New Zealand Survey Finds Adult Daily Vaping Prevalence at 11.7%, Concentrated Among Youth and Disadvantaged Groups）

A survey report released by the Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa shows that despite New Zealand implementing stricter vaping regulations in 2025, including a ban on disposable products and tighter flavour restrictions, daily vaping rates continue to rise. The research body urges close monitoring of behavioural changes following the new rules coming into force.

Dec.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai

China’s E-Cigarette Exports Rise to USD 1.098 Billion in October 2025, Up 23.7% Year-on-Year as U.S. Demand Surges

China’s e-cigarette exports reached USD 1.098 billion in October 2025, rising 24.8% month-on-month and 23.7% year-on-year, according to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China. Export concentration increased to 83.11%, with the U.S. market contributing the largest share of monthly growth.

Nov.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai

NZ Issues National High Alert on Etomidate-Laced Vapes After Hospitalisations

New Zealand’s High Alert drug harm monitoring system has issued a public High Alert warning after multiple hospitalisations linked to illicit vape pods containing the anaesthetic etomidate. Known on the street as space oil, k-pods, or eto, these vapes were first detected in January 2025. Customs has since seized additional samples, and clinics nationwide report rising cases of poisoning and hypoglycaemia.