MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. reports that after a successful large-scale raid against illicit cigarettes in Bulacan and Valenzuela last November 6, 2024, the BIR has filed a tax evasion case against the culprits behind the operation.
The criminal cases were filed last November 14, 2024, and February 7, 2025. The BIR computed a total tax liability of P8,544,809,067.50.
The night of November 6, 2024, the BIR conducted a simultaneous raid of an illegal cigarette factory in Bulacan and three illegal cigarette warehouses in Valenzuela.
All four sites are suspected to be part of one criminal enterprise.
The BIR seized raw materials, cigarette-making machines, and cigarette packing machines. Six Chinese nationals were also arrested.
鈥淭he BIR has filed an P8.5 B tax evasion case against the criminals behind an illicit cigarette factory and 3 warehouses in Bulacan and Valenzuela. It was the largest operation of the BIR against illicit cigarettes last 2024. The BIR will not stop filing criminal cases against large-scale illicit cigarette manufacturers and distributors.聽 Big or small, all operations of illicit cigarettes in the Philippines are criminal in nature,鈥� Lumagui said.
The culprits violated the National Internal Revenue Code, particularly Section 236 in relation to Section 258 鈥� Unlawful Pursuit of Business, Section 263 鈥� Unlawful Possession or Removal of Articles Subject to Excise Tax without Payment of Tax, Section 265-B 鈥� Unlawful Possession of Any Apparatus or Mechanical Contrivance for the Manufacture of Cigarettes, and Section 260 鈥� Unlawful Possession of Cigarette Paper in Bobbins or Rolls, Cigarette Tipping Paper or Cigarette Filter Tips.
