BOC seizes P500M worth of fake cigarettes, tax stamps in Bulacan

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized on Thursday fake cigarettes and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps valued at P500 million in three warehouses in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

The tax stamps were placed inside a small sack of old cigarette-making machines and several sacks with shredded plastics, said BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.

The warehouses are owned by one Johnny Caluban and Panply Marketing Corporation, Lapeña noted.

“The Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) agents did not find any person inside the warehouse so they proceeded with the inspection, which lead to the seizure of the fake cigarettes,” Lapeña said.

“Aside from the ESS, the operation was enjoined by the elements of the Bulacan Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation Detection Group, local government unit of Barangay Perez, Meycauayan City, and a product specialist from Japan Tobacco Industry.”

The tax stamps are still being authenticated by the BIR while the warehouses in Muralla Industrial Subdivision, are now under guard.

Lapeña said the BOC has been tracking the proliferation of locally-made fake cigarettes and smuggled fake cigarettes from other countries.

“Again, we are warning these unscrupulous traders, importers, and businessmen. Our operations after your illegal trade practices will not stop,” Lapeña said.

“You better shape up or your businesses will suffer. We will do these to help level the playing field for legitimate cigarette manufacturers,” Lapeña said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/VDS, GMA News