The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted P8.244 million worth of misdeclared vape products from China at the Port of Clark.
The shipment was falsely declared as “non-commercial items such as shoes and clothes,” but x-ray scanning and physical inspection revealed the illegal contents.
Examination found 69 boxes containing a total of 20,610 pieces of Black Ultra vape pods in various flavors. A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the shipment for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
In a joint operation with the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and CIIS on August 14, the shipment’s recipient was arrested in Quiapo, Manila. Vito Barcelo
Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno reaffirmed the BOC’s strong stance against smuggling, while Port of Clark District Collector Jairus Reyes praised the vigilance of personnel, saying the seizure shows the effectiveness of intelligence operations.
