MANILA — A staggering ₱1.428-BILLION haul of illicit vape products has been crushed and destroyed in a massive crackdown by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), delivering a major blow to the illegal vape trade and preventing millions of potentially dangerous, untaxed products from flooding the market.

In what the BOC described as the largest single-operation seizure of smuggled vape products in its history, authorities on Thursday destroyed 3,174 boxes of vape devices and pods bearing the brands Chillax, Black Bar, and Shift.

The seized products had no visible Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps, raising serious concerns over tax compliance, regulatory oversight, and the risks posed by products that may have bypassed required government checks.

NO TAX STAMPS. NO FREE PASS. NO SECOND CHANCE.

The record-breaking haul was intercepted during a March 2026 operation by the BOC’s Manila International Container Port (MICP) at a warehouse in Manila, following intelligence information that triggered a joint operation by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-MICP and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Customs operatives subjected the shipment to a 100-percent physical examination and inventory before placing the goods under seizure proceedings.

The operation culminated in the issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention and a Forfeiture Order by MICP under District Collector Atty. Geoffrey K. De Vera IV, paving the way for the final condemnation and destruction of the seized products.

CRUSHED. DRENCHED. OUT OF CIRCULATION.

The government made sure the confiscated vape products would not simply disappear into storage, find their way back into commercial channels, or be recycled into another illegal operation.

The items were fed into a roller compactor and crushed before being sprayed with water to prevent their recovery, resale, or reuse.

For the BOC, the message was unmistakable: illicit goods seized by authorities would face final disposal in accordance with the law—not a second shot at the marketplace.

₱1.4 BILLION AT STAKE—AND PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE LINE!

Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Dakila Elteen M. Napao, speaking on behalf of Finance Secretary Frederick Go, underscored the significance of the operation, stressing that the government’s campaign goes beyond confiscating contraband.

“We are witnessing the strong, unyielding resolve of our government to protect the public interest,” Napao said, citing the protection of citizens from potentially hazardous substances, the safeguarding of government revenues, and the need to preserve a fair and competitive market.

The stakes extend beyond the staggering price tag. Illegal imports can undermine legitimate businesses, evade applicable taxes and duties, and bypass regulatory requirements intended to protect consumers.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno delivered a similarly hard-hitting message, emphasizing that the destruction was not merely about lost tax revenue but also about the potential dangers of products that have not undergone the proper checks and regulatory processes.

“Sa pagsira sa mga vape products na ito, sinisigurado ng BOC na hindi na magagamit o maibebenta ang mga ito,” Nepomuceno said.

“Hindi lang naman tariffs, duties, at taxes ang usapin dito. Delikado ang mga puslit na produkto dahil hindi dumaan ang mga ito sa tamang pagsusuri at regulasyon at maaaring makasama sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan.”

ALL-OUT WAR VS. ILLEGAL TRADE!

Representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Commission on Audit (COA), BIR, and PCG witnessed the destruction, underscoring the interagency effort to ensure the proper disposition of seized and forfeited goods.

Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Commissioner Nepomuceno, the BOC vowed to sustain its intensified enforcement against illegal vape imports, reinforcing border protection while safeguarding public revenues, legitimate commerce, and consumers.

With ₱1.428 billion worth of illicit vape products reduced to crushed debris, the operation sends a forceful warning to those seeking to exploit the country’s borders: the government is tightening the screws on illegal trade—and record-breaking contraband seizures will not end with confiscation alone.

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