THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday said it confiscated more than 81,000 illicit vape pods worth over P543.74 million in tax liabilities in a Bulacan raid.
In a statement, the BIR said vape pods were found in a residential compound in Marilao, which contained 406 master cases under the brand “TEAM PAPA.”
The discovered products did not have the mandatory BIR-issued excise stamps, in clear violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, it said.
Illicit trade of tobacco products eats away the collection of excise taxes, which saw decline in recent years.
Data from the BIR reported that the tobacco tax component of excise taxes declined by 0.35% to P134.43 billion last year, against the P176 billion collected in 2021.
“These criminals are now hiding in houses and villages, thinking that we cannot reach them. Think again.” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said.
“We call on everyone to report all forms of illicit vape. They are hiding in villages. They are hiding in residential compounds. Once reported and verified, the BIR will raid these locations and file cases against these criminals,” he added. – Aubrey Rose A. Inosante
