VALENZUELA: VAPES, MEDS, GADGETS
SEIZED
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — At least P174 million in smuggled goods from China, made up of illegal vapes and unregistered foreign medicines, electronics, cosmetics, and food, were pulled from a Valenzuela warehouse in a joint Customs-PNP raid, with the BOC warning the contraband could have endangered thousands if it hit local shelves.
Not anymore.
Acting on verified intelligence, the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, with the Philippine National Police, served a Letter of Authority on April 14 and raided the Valenzuela facility suspected of storing illicit vape products.
The warehouse contained P174,863,576.94 worth of goods, including:
Vape-related products
Machinery and electronic devices
Assorted foreign medicines
Foodstuff, apparel, cosmetic products
LED lighting products and other general merchandise
Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla led the inspection. The items are believed to have originated from China, lacked necessary importation permits, and included suspected intellectual property rights-infringing products.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the seizure highlights a bigger threat than lost duties.
“What concerns us most is that these products, if they make their way into our markets and homes, may pose serious risks to the health and safety of our people,” Nepomuceno said.
The agency noted unregistered medicines and electronics could endanger consumers if sold locally.
The operation was done in close coordination with the PNP and supported by the Philippine Coast Guard. The BOC said it will coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation for case build-up and filing of appropriate charges.
The raid follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify monitoring of illicit trade.
Valenzuela warehouses have been repeatedly hit by BOC operations. Past raids netted P1.18 billion in vapes and used clothes in March 2025, P1.43 billion in e-cigarettes in Oct 2023, and P1.5 billion in fake luxury goods in 2022.
Assistant Commissioner Maronilla underscored that “such unregulated goods have no place in the market and must be strictly accounted for under existing customs laws”.
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