ILLICIT CIGARETTES. The Bureau of Internal Revenue confiscates nearly 400,000 packs of illicit cigarettes in separate operations in Davao City on Nov. 6 and 8, 2023. The BIR said tax liabilities amounted to almost PHP270 million. (Photo courtesy of BIR)
MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said 717 master cases or 358,500 packs of illicit cigarettes with an estimated PHP252 million in tax liabilities were confiscated in Davao City last week.
In a belated report on Tuesday, the BIR said the cigarettes were seized through a joint enforcement operation with the Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City.
The joint operation discovered that brands such as Canon, GreenHill, and Bros were being smuggled into the Philippines without proper payment of excise taxes.
"The BIR will continue the fight against illicit tobacco traders or smugglers wherever they may be. The BIR will continue to protect compliant taxpayers while prosecuting illicit trade. We will not stop. Expect more enforcement operations," Lumagui said in a statement.
The BIR said another enforcement operation was conducted on Nov. 8, resulting in the confiscation of 51 master cases or 25,500 packs of smuggled New Orleans cigarettes with an estimated tax liabilities of PHP17.9 million and the arrest of two suspects.
It was a joint operation of the Davao City Police Office Police Station 6 and Task Force Davao during a random checkpoint in Barangay San Isidro, Bunawan town. (PNA)
