The Bureau of Customs raided two warehouses controlled by Mighty Corp. yesterday after the embattled local tobacco manufacturer failed to secure a new restraining order from the courts.
The BoC led by Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon rushed to Barangay Matimbubong, San Ildefonso, Bulacan after receiving a tip that cigarettes with fake tax stamps were stored in Mighty Corp.’s facilities.
Following the raid, the BoC seized an estimated P3.2-billion worth of cigarettes allegedly affixed with fake tax stamps.
According to Capt. Joenel Pogoy, who conducted the raid in coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, local police, and barangay officials, around 160,000 master cases of Mighty brand cigarettes were found in the two warehouses.
The first warehouse contained 145,000 master cases of cigarettes with an estimated value of P2.9 billion. Inside the second facility, the raiding team found 15,000 master cases worth around P300 million.
Using the BIR stamp verifier, the team confirmed that the cigarettes had been marked with fake tax stamps, the BoC said. (Chino S. Leyco)