The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently raided large-scale illegal cigarette traders in Cavite, where the agency seized cigarette products with estimated tax liability of P5.4 billion.
In a statement yesterday, the BIR said three warehouses/factories were raided in Indang and Dasmariñas, Cavite last March 21.
This operation is one of the largest raids conducted by the BIR against illegal cigarettes.
“We advise everyone to register their cigarette operations with the BIR and to pay proper excise taxes on those products,” said BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.
During the raid, the BIR recovered master cases of cigarettes, machines, sacks of raw tobacco and fake internal revenue stamps.
The perpetrators behind the illicit cigarette operations in Cavite will be facing criminal and civil cases for their violations under the National Internal Revenue Code.
Possible violations include Section 130 – Filing of Return and Payment of Excise Tax on Domestic Products; Section 131 – Payment of Excise Taxes on Imported Articles; Section 144 – Tobacco Products, Heated Tobacco Products and Vapor Products; Section 145 – Cigars and Cigarettes; Section 171 – Authority of Internal Revenue Officer in Searching for and Testing Taxable Articles; Section 172 – Detention of Package Containing Taxable Articles; and Section 260 – Unlawful Possession of Cigarette Paper in Bobbins or Rolls, Etc.
