By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives arrested two individuals and seized from them alleged illicit vape products worth PHP12 million in a police operation in Barangay Molino 3, Bacoor City, Cavite on Oct. 9.
In a statement on Saturday, CIDG Director, Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II, said the suspects, identified as Dante, 34, and Juliana, 21, were caught in the act of selling and trading prohibited vape products containing flavors other than plain tobacco or plain menthol, which were found to contain substances that are toxic and addictive.
Morico said the CIDG operatives seized 40 master cases of “Chill X Kleer” and “Geek Bar,” 36 boxes of “Chillax Go X,” 4,025 bottles of assorted vape juice, and 15 boxes of “Next Lim,” with an estimated total value of PHP12 million.
He noted that the state protects and promotes the people’s right to health and instills health consciousness among them.
The government, he said, is properly regulating products to protect the citizens from the hazards of regulated, unregulated, and substandard vapor products and heated tobacco products.
Morico commended CIDG 4-A (Calabarzon), led by its chief Lt. Col. Ali C Ganaban, and CIDG-Cavite, led by Lt. Col. Mark Jason M Gatdula, for the accomplishment.
“With the confiscation of these alleged illicit vape products, we prevented its sale to the consumers, thereby protected them from possible health risk; and we arrested the violators of the law. Maraming salamat sa inyo (Thank you very much),” he said. (PNA)
