In 2024 alone, the Philippine Customs Department seized about P6.658 billion (about $100 million) worth of merchandise in 48 operations targeting the smuggling of Vapes, according to the Philippine presidency.
Core points to watch:
1. Recent seizures: In the past 10 operations. The Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port, and the Customs Intelligence Group have seized nearly 3 million Vapes and their accessories worth about 3.26 billion Philippine pesos (about $57 million).
2. 2024 Full year: The Philippine Customs Department seized smuggled Vapes valued at approximately Php 6.658 billion (approximately $100 million) in 48 operations.
3. Full year 2023: The Philippines seized approximately more than 3 billion pesos (approximately $52.3 million) worth of smuggled Vapes.
4. 2025 Q1: Philippine Customs seized illegal Products worth a total of 483.1 million pesos (about $8.37 million).
As reported by MB on April 7. Philippine President Marcos reiterated his commitment to protecting public health, saying it is more important than lost tax revenue recovered from smuggling. Marcos made the remarks while presiding over the inspection and destruction of seized smuggled Vape products at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Manila. In his speech, he noted that the seized products posed a serious threat to public health.
He said we should be more concerned about the health problems that may arise from these Vape products than the loss of tax revenue to the government.
- “This is because we are unable to identify these smuggled products and do not know their sources and ingredients.”
In the past 10 operations, the Port of Manila, the Manila International Container Port, and the Customs Intelligence Group seized a total of 2,977,925 Vapes and their accessories valued at about Php3.26 billion (about $57 million).
Marcos warned that some of these Vape oils contained harmful substances. “Some of the products were tested and found to contain toxins, further threatening the health of the users.”
What worries him more is the marketing practices of these products. The president noted that the packaging design of many of the products is aimed at minors.
Marcos praised the coordinated efforts of various government agencies for the steady increase in the number of smuggled Vapes seized since 2023.
- “In 2023 we seized roughly more than P3 billion ($52.3 million) worth of smuggled Vapes, and in 2024, seizures of illegal Vapes doubled. From January to March 2025, we are also moving towards intercepting more illegal Vapes.”
In the first quarter of 2025, Customs seized illegal Vape products worth a total of 483.1 million pesos (about $8.37 million), according to Philippine media outlet ABS.
In 2024 alone, the Philippine Customs Department seized about P6.658 billion (about $100 million) worth of merchandise in 48 operations targeting smuggled Vapes, according to presidential sources.
