ORMOC CITY— A joint anti-smuggling operation led by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) resulted in the arrest of a couple and the seizure of thousands of pesos worth of unstamped cigarettes in Barangay Asuncion, Maasin City on Thursday, February 5.
Recovered during the operation were several reams and packs of illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of P56,000. Authorities said the cigarettes bore no BIR tax stamps, and the suspects failed to present permits or authority to sell the products.
The suspects were identified by police as alias “Joseph,” 56, a businessman, and alias “Shirly,” 56, a half-Taiwanese national. Both are residents of Purok Sunkist, Barangay Asuncion, Maasin City.
The operation was conducted from around 11:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by joint personnel from BIR Region VIII, the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office, the Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Maasin City Police Station.
Confiscated items included various brands of cigarettes such as Fort, Millano, Modern, Onion, Red, RGD, M1, New Orleans, Napoli, Commando, Double Happiness, Mighty, Walter, and other assorted brands.
All seized cigarettes are now under the custody of the BIR Region VIII for proper disposition.
Authorities said criminal charges are being prepared against the suspects for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, in relation to the illegal sale and distribution of illicit cigarettes.
(ROBERT DEJON)
