BIR seizes PHP8.54B illicit cigarettes in Bulacan, Valenzuela

On Thursday, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced that it confiscated more than 11 million packs of illicit cigarettes during a raid in Bulacan and Valenzuela City on November 6.

The seized cigarettes had an estimated tax liability of PHP8.54 billion from one illicit cigarette factory in Bulacan and three warehouses in Valenzuela City, as BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. stated.

This operation marked the largest raid against illicit cigarette production for 2024, according to Lumagui.

Raw materials, cigarette-making machines, and packing equipment were also seized from the raided establishments suspected of being part of a single criminal enterprise.

Six Chinese nationals were arrested during the raid for violations under the National Internal Revenue Code.