CRACKDOWN. Officers from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group join BIR officials during raids of warehouses containing smuggled cigarettes on Thursday night (Sept. 12, 2024). The CIDG on Friday said the operations in Quezon City and Caloocan yielded PHP197 million worth of smuggled cigarettes. (Photo courtesy of CIDG)
MANILA – Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized PHP197 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a series of operations in cities of Quezon and Caloocan, an official said Friday.
In a statement, CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said the group's Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit (AFCCU), in coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), carried out the raids on Thursday night.
Authorities first raided a warehouse on 61 Balingasa Street, Balintawak, Quezon City at about 9 p.m., arresting a Chinese national and two Filipinos.
Police seized 1,729,248 packs of smuggled cigarettes, with an estimated market value of PHP184,275,000.
At about 11 p.m., police raided a warehouse on 163 F. Roxas Street, 6th Avenue, Grace Park West, Barangay 54, Caloocan City, seizing 170 boxes of illicit cigarettes, with an estimated value of PHP12,750,000.
Francisco said all seized items were without the required BIR tax stamps, proving that these are smuggled.
The confiscated items have been secured at the BIR main office for safekeeping, while the suspects are now in the custody of CIDG-AFCCU.
The suspects will be charged with tax evasion under the National Internal Revenue Code.
PHP838-million tax liability
The BIR said the traders responsible for the two warehouses violated Section 145 (Cigars and Cigarettes), Section 146 (Inspection Fee), Section 248 (Civil Penalties), Section 249 (Interest), Section 260 (Unlawful Possession of Cigarette Paper in Bobbins or Rolls, Etc.), Section 263 (Unlawful Possession or Removal of Articles Subject to Excise Tax Without Payment of the Tax), and Section 265 (Offenses Relating to Stamps) of the National Internal Revenue Code.
"The BIR estimates PHP838 million in tax liability in relation to this raid. The BIR is grateful to the CIDG for its dedication to fight illicit trade," BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a news release.
He said the BIR welcomes all informants, whether from the public or private sector, who can provide information on possible targets.
"The BIR will raid your warehouses even after midnight. The BIR will not rest until illicit trade is exterminated," he added. (PNA)
