BIR wins 5.7 Billion Tax Evasion case against Illicit Cigarette ring; CTA to issue Warrants of Arrest

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Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled in its favor, in relation to a Php 5.7 billion tax evasion case that it filed last February 7, 2025. After ruling in favor of the BIR, the DOJ filed two (2) criminal information before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) last March 13, 2025. The case filed by the BIR with the DOJ came after a multi-city raid executed by the BIR and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) last November 6 and 7 in Valenzuela and Bulacan.

"The BIR won a Php 5.7 billion tax evasion case against five Chinese nationals linked to a large illicit cigarette operation. This case is part of our largest raid against illicit cigarettes last 2024. This win is a testament to our commitment to pursue every criminal involved in illicit cigarette trade. We will raid your warehouses. We will destroy all illicit cigarettes and machines. We will file cases against you. You will be arrested," Commissioner Lumagui stated. 

The total amount of tax liability in the said case is Php 5,764,761,450. Approximately 21,000 master cases of illicit cigarettes were seized during the operation. 

Recently, the BIR has also conducted a nationwide destruction of illicit cigarettes and unregistered machines from February 24, 2025 to March 5, 2025. A total of 10 days was needed to destroy 14.3 million packs of illicit cigarettes. 

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