The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has once again dealt a blow to the illicit cigarette trade, this time uncovering a large-scale secret factory in Cabanatuan City.
In a statement on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the BIR said the raid, conducted in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), resulted in the seizure of illicit cigarettes, manufacturing equipment, and raw materials.
BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. estimated that the tax liability for the operation amounts to a staggering P636.9 million.
"The BIR will continue to raid large-scale illicit cigarette warehouses, traders, and manufacturers. This P636-million raid in Cabanatuan City of an illicit cigarette factory shows our commitment to a fair and equal marketplace in our country. Expect more raids,” Lumagui stated.
According to the BIR, the factory, disguised as a rest house, had multiple hidden facilities, including a bunker and a firing range.
Fifteen Chinese nationals were arrested in connection with the operation.
Lumagui said the BIR is relentless in combating illicit trade and ensuring a fair and equitable marketplace.
The raid revealed the extent of the operation's sophistication and the lengths to which the perpetrators went to evade detection.
The factory, located behind a gasoline station, was accessed through two separate gates, making it difficult to spot.
Inside, authorities discovered unsanitary conditions, with raw tobacco materials strewn on the floor.
The individuals involved in the illicit operation are now facing charges for violating various provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), including unlawful possession, tax evasion, and failure to file tax returns.