BIR and police operatives inventory seized illicit cigarettes. Contributed photo
GUAGUA, Pampanga – A big retail store here believed to be the supplier of illicit cigarettes in neighboring towns was raided by a joint team of revenue officers and the police.
Acting on a mission order approved by Bureau of Internal Revenue–Region 3 group head Gene M. Bragais and Capt. Christopher Obien, commander of the Regional Mobile Force Batallion 3, 302nd Maneuver based in Lubao, led the enforcement against Emydel Store at the Guagua Public Market and a fenced lot located at Pascual Village, Barangay Bancal also in Guagua both owned by a certain Emmanuel L. Pring.
The mission order was approved by BIR regional director Edgar Tolentino.
Seized from the store were 1,819 packs of assorted fake cigarettes of Two Moon, D&B, RGD, Journey, Far Star, Ligun, and Cambo brands. At the fenced lot, a parked Nissan Urvan with Plate Number CAF9966 was found loaded with 12,663 packs of assorted cigarette contraband including Two Moon products.
The BIR estimated the potential excise tax to be collected from the seized products and fine of the operator would amount to more than P7 million.
Revenue officer Bragais said the enforcement was prompted by a complaint of rampant illegal activities at the said public market. He added the confiscated brands do not bear the BIR tax stamps and suspected to be a mix of smuggled and locally–produced by illegitimate manufacturers without license to operate with the agency.
The BIR pointed out the occurrence of Two Moon products in their various raids and prevalently sold in Central Luzon.
Information gathered by the enforcement team revealed that the raided Emydel Store is the source of illicit traders selling fake cigarettes in nearby towns around Guagua. Following the raid, stores who get supply from Emydel have run out of the illicit stocks.
The revenue agency took in possession the contraband and the Nissan Urvan was turned over to the police for proper documentation. It is preparing the filing of appropriate charges against the storeowner.
Barangay officials and public market administrator Roy Sanchez witnessed the search operations. Sanchez committed to meet the wholesalers and stamp out the selling of fake cigarettes in the public market.
