OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation-Special Task Force seized over P30 million worth of illegal vape products in an operation in Laguna last Monday.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago presented the confiscated vape products to the media yesterday and announced the arrest of three individuals – Kert Lester Simbajon, Javer Dirampatun and Romeo Cada – in the operation.
Santiago said cases for alleged violation of R.A. 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, as well as RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, are being readied against the three.
He said the operation stemmed from the agency’s cyber monitoring and surveillance operation, which uncovered the importation, sale, and distribution of unauthorized vapor products in Cavite and Laguna.
“By utilizing open-source intelligence and human intelligence, the NBI was able to identify the individual responsible for these illicit activities,” Santiago told reporters about the operation in Rose Village in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Confiscated by the NBI were 40,500 pieces of illegal vape products worth P31.9 million as well as 3,880 vape pods valued at P640,000.
Santiago also announced that NBI operatives, together with the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau of Customs, intercepted and seized a package containing kush or marijuana fruiting tops worth P708,000 at the FedEx warehouse in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga last July 3.
The package sent through FedEx was declared as containing reading pillows.
Santiago said the package was sent by a certain Alain Dela Rosa from Michigan, United States, to the consignee, Ricky Villamor Jr. of Cebu City.
