BIR files P1.8-b raps vs. illicit cigarette traders

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday said it has filed 69 cases of tax evasion amounting to at least P1.8 billion before the Department of Justice against illicit cigarette traders who were caught selling untaxed, fake and smuggled cigarettes during the agency’s first simultaneous raids conducted last January 2023 in different parts of the country.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui said the government was losing around P50 billion to P100 billion due to the illegal cigarette trading which was supposed to fund health services and various government projects.

“The total exposure we have filed today, including the penalties and fines, amounts to P1.8 billion based on the result of our nationwide raids that we conducted last January 25 against illegal cigarette [traders]. Again, it was the first ever nationwide operation in the BI history,” Lumagui said in a press conference.

Lumagui warned that the bureau would continue its campaign against illegal cigarette traders by conducting more raids and filing of criminal cases.

According to him, the BIR would focus on Zamboanga City and Pampanga which were considered “hotspots” for cigarette smuggling.

The BIR’s raids last January covered 378 stores across the country.

Lumagui said all the revenue regions of the BIR participated in the nationwide raids since the illicit cigarettes were considered a national concern of the BIR.

“After the first BIR nationwide raid of illicit cigarette stores and warehouses last January 2023, we are now filing 69 criminal cases against the possessors and owners for tax evasion. This is a warning against all illicit traders. The BIR will not only raid your stores and warehouse, we will also file criminal cases against you. This will not be the last,” he added.