The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has conducted its largest enforcement activity against illicit cigarettes so far this year, with the recent operation yielding an estimated P8.5 billion in tax liabilities.
In a statement on Thursday, the BIR said it conducted a simultaneous raid of an illicit cigarette factory in Bulacan and three illicit cigarette warehouses in Valenzuela City last November 6.
All four establishments are suspected to be part of one criminal enterprise.
The BIR estimates a total tax liability of P8.54 billion.
“This is the largest operation of the BIR against illicit cigarettes for 2024. The BIR will not stop raiding factories and warehouses involved in illicit cigarettes,” tax chief Romeo Lumagui Jr. said.
More than 11.5 million packs of illicit cigarettes were seized during the raid.
The BIR also seized raw materials, cigarette making machines and cigarette packing machines.
Six Chinese nationals were also apprehended. The perpetrators have violated several provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code.
This includes Section 236 in relation to Section 258-Unlawful Pursuit of Business, Section 263-Unlawful Possession or Removal of Articles Subject to Excise Tax without Payment of Tax, Section 265-B-Unlawful Possession of Any Apparatus or Mechanical Contrivance for the Manufacture of Cigarettes, and Section 260-Unlawful Possession of Cigarette Paper in Bobbins or Rolls, Cigarette Tipping Paper or Cigarette Filter Tips.
