Marcos vows to fight smuggled vapes, prioritizing health over revenue

President Marcos reaffirmed the government's dedication to safeguarding public health, emphasizing its priority over potential revenue losses from smuggling.

He led the inspection and condemnation of 2,977,925 pieces of smuggled electronic vapes, vape parts, and accessories valued at P3.36 billion, confiscated in ten separate operations.

The confiscated items were seized by the Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port, and the BOC Intelligence Group.

President Marcos expressed concern over the unknown origins and composition of smuggled vapes, stating that their packaging is clearly designed to appeal to the youth.

He highlighted that these smuggled vapes pose a significant threat to public health, especially to young people, as some vape liquids contain harmful substances and can lead to addiction.

The President vowed that concerned government agencies, including the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Finance, and Department of Trade and Industry, would continuously work on combating smuggled vape products, emphasizing that the health issues they raise are paramount.