National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested five persons and seized P8.1 million worth of vaporized nicotine products during an entrapment operation conducted in Manila.
The NBI identified the arrested persons as Vincent G. Sulima, Christian F. Lao, John Rey E. Petallar, Renz Joel R. Penson and Mercy T. Villon.
Operatives of the NBI National Capital Region (NBI-NCR), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), apprehended the suspects in Sta. Cruz, Manila, on July 3.
The operation resulted in the confiscation of 25,653 pieces of vape products, with an estimated market value of P8,164,570.
The suspects were presented for inquest before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for violating Republic Act (RA) No. 11900, the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Regulations Act in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175; the Cybercrime Prevention Act 2012, and RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175.
The NBI said the operation stemmed from an intelligence report received by NBI-NCR on the illegal distribution and online sale of vape products by a certain Vincent Sulima, operating from 1753 Felix Huertas Road, Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The suspect was reportedly using social media platforms, including facebook.com/port2pasok, to market unregistered vape products in violation of RA 11900.
After conducting surveillance and test-buy operations, the bureau said the NBI-NCR decided to proceed with the entrapment operation that led to the arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of the products.
The suspects are now in the custody of the NBI-Security Management Division (SMD). (Jeffrey Damicog)
