The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) hosted a briefing session with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and representatives from online shopping platforms Lazada, Tiktok, and Shopee to explore potential joint operations aimed at tackling illegal vape products.
During the briefing, intelligence officers from PDEA, Laila Abad and Lester Urmaza, discussed emerging domestic and global trends in addictive substances.
They highlighted the infusion of psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, and cannabis, or marijuana, into foods, drinks, and vape products. Both are listed on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s (DDB) updated list of Scheduled Controlled Substances.
PDEA suggested a renewal and update of a memorandum of agreement with the online platforms to better combat the evolving presence of illegal substances in the market.
This year, the DTI has also teamed up with the Department of the Interior and Local Government , the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)–as part of its collaborative efforts to intensify monitoring and enforcement of vape regulations.
The DTI signed a memorandum of agreement with the NBI last June 11 aimed at boosting consumer welfare initiatives with the latter’s investigative and technical expertise.
The agency has conducted numerous joint operations with other government agencies and local government units. Violations of the Vape Law have led to product confiscations, issuance of notices of violations and Show Cause Orders, as well as the filing of cases.
