BIR seizes illicit vape vendo machine

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The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confiscated a vending machine containing illicit vape products in Quezon City yesterday.

In a statement, the BIR said that illicit vapes carrying the brand “Flava” were being sold through the vending machine for P500 each.

“This is especially worrisome because an illicit vape product is openly being sold in a building where a gym, dance studio, gymnastics studio, basketball court, cafe and bakery, laundry station, water station and a restaurant are merely a few steps away. Children could have bought the Flava vape since the vending machine is open to the public,” the BIR said.

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The tax agency said  a netizen reported the presence of the illicit vending machine selling Flava vape products on BIR commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.’s page about two weeks ago.

“Selling illicit vape is illegal, whether the same be through vending machines or online stores. The BIR will confiscate and raid any illicit vape products. We are thankful to the netizen-informant who reported the vending machine around two weeks ago in my official Facebook page. The BIR welcomes all informants against illicit vape. Rest assured, we will act on all verified targets,” Lumagui said.

Lumagui called on all sellers of vape products to ensure compliance with the agency by paying the correct amount of excise taxes.

Last March, the BIR raided a warehouse in Laguna with illicit Flava vape products.

This resulted to the confiscation of 1,029 master boxes, equivalent to 102,900 bottles of vape.

The estimated tax deficiency from the said operation is around P75.7 million.

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