BACOLOD City – Some P38.78 million worth of suspected smuggled and untaxed cigarettes were destroyed by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) at the Bacolod City Sanitary Landfill in Barangay Felisa on November 11.
Around 377 boxes of confiscated and voluntarily surrendered cigarette products, with a consolidated estimated value of P38,781,500, were shredded during the disposal activity to prevent their recovery and resale in the market.
The cigarette products were seized or surrendered during various police operations conducted by BCPO Police Stations 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Verification by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) confirmed that the examined products lacked the required Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) and internal revenue tax stamps, indicating violations of applicable tax and regulatory requirements.
“Usually, items like these that are imported lack the necessary precautionary markings and do not go through Customs and BIR,” City Police Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia said.
Before the destruction, representatives of concerned government agencies conducted a joint inspection, inventory and documentation of the cigarette products to ensure proper accounting and disposal.
The activity was spearheaded by the BCPO in coordination with the Commission on Audit, BIR, Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office and Bureau of Fire Protection. Barangay Felisa officials and members of the media also witnessed the destruction.
Rebadomia said the activity demonstrated the police office’s continuing commitment to suppress smuggling and the illegal cigarette trade while protecting legitimate businesses and consumers from products that do not comply with government health and tax regulations.
The destruction also underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation in preventing illicit products from entering local markets and protecting government revenues.
The BCPO said it would continue conducting operations against the illegal trade and distribution of untaxed cigarette products as part of its efforts to maintain public safety and uphold the law./PN
