Two Arrested, P3.9-M Worth of Unregulated Vape Products Seized in Paranaque City

Two persons have been arrested and P3.9 million worth of 'unregulated' vaporized products have been seized during an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Paranaque City.

The NBI identified those arrested last July 2 as Ace Dela Cruz Garcia and Reginald Venture Llanto who were apprehended by operatives of the NBI’s Cavite North District Office (NBI-CAVIDO North).

It said that seized during the operation were 49 master cases which contain 8,200 pieces of vape pod and 1,600 pieces of vape device among others, and after inventory the value of the seized items was placed at P3,920,000.

After their arrest, the NBI said the suspects were presented for inquest before the Paranaque City Prosecutor’s Office for violations of Sections 4 (d), 12 (j) and 18 of Republic Act (RA) 11900, the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act.

It said the NBI-CAVIDO received an information on the sale and distribution of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products that are non-compliant with the registration requirements prescribed by RA 11900.

After presenting a sample, the NBI said it received a certification from the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products (DTI-OSMV) which revealed that the vape products being distributed were considered 'unregulated and substandard.'

Thus, an entrapment operation was hatched, it added.