BOC seizes P382M worth of illicit cigarette materials in Pampanga

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized P382 million worth of illicit cigarette-related materials in Pampanga, authorities said Wednesday.

In a statement, the BOC said the contraband was discovered during an enforcement operation at a warehouse in Barangay Balucluc, Apalit, Pampanga on March 5, following reports of illegal tobacco activities in the area.

Authorities found Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps with identical serial numbers, cigarette packaging materials, and cigarette tipping paper rolls bearing different brands.

The seized items were estimated to be worth P382 million.

The latest operation comes nearly a month after authorities also confiscated P400 million worth of illicit tobacco equipment from four warehouses in San Fernando and San Simon, Pampanga in February.

Earlier, Romero Federico Quimbo, the representative of Marikina’s 2nd District, described the illicit cigarette trade as the “new POGO” allegedly being run by foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, Jonvic Remulla said a large syndicate possibly owns or leases the warehouses involved in the illegal operations, which he said may be led by a so-called “Tobacco Lord.”—MCG, GMA Integrated News