Customs raids illicit cigarette plant in Pampanga

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) raided an illegal cigarette plant in Pampanga, defying tax obligations that erode government revenues, it said on Thursday.

The operation carried out on Jan. 28 in Mexico, Pampanga, found a cigarette manufacturing warehouse without valid permits or authority to locally manufacture cigarettes, the agency said in a statement.

Customs said the plant is allegedly producing local cigarettes known as “Two Moon,” equipped with cigarette-making machines and manufacturing paraphernalia for brands such as Mighty, H&P, Playboy, and Carnival.

During the operation, authorities apprehended 63 Filipinos, including 11 females, and six male Chinese nationals found inside the premises

“Illicit cigarette manufacturing undermines legitimate businesses, deprives the government of much-needed revenues, and poses serious risks to public health,” BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said.

In a separate statement, the BoC said that a passenger found carrying cocaine worth P43.4 million was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Jan. 22.

It added that authorities found 8.19 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the individual’s checked-in baggage after suspicious images were detected during the x-ray screening of their luggage, prompting a physical inspection. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante