By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officials and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel raided a warehouse suspected of storing fake cigarettes late Thursday afternoon at Bacolod City’s Bredco Port. According to BIR Regional Director Antonio Jonathan Jaminola, they initially received a report claiming the warehouse was manufacturing and selling fake cigarettes, which prompted a surveillance operation.
Authorities seized a total of 798 boxes of fake cigarettes.
When presented to members of the media, Jaminola pointed out all of the cigarette packages had fake documentary stamps. He also pointed out, the cigarettes had the same serial numbers, further evidence that the items are fake.
Aside from the fake cigarettes, authorities seized hundreds of boxes containing other items such as filter rods, staple wires, razor blades, and handsaws. BIR officials also recovered a Toyota Revo with license plates that was later confirmed “clean” when officials ran the plates with a Highway Patrol Group database of stolen vehicles.
The seized items were also reported to have been undeclared by it’s owner, whom officials have requested not to be identified.
Jaminola said the fake cigarettes could bring a total P14 million in excise tax alone if they weren’t able to seize them.
He added, the fake cigarette manufacturer could face penalties of P140 million as well as tax evasion charges for the other undeclared items./DGB, WDJ