The Bureau of Customs assesses cigarettes, raw materials, and equipment during an operation against an alleged illegal cigarette manufacturing facility in Barangay Panipuan, Mexico, Pampanga. (BOC)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) shut down an alleged illegal cigarette manufacturing facility in Mexico town, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to dismantle illicit trade networks and protect government revenues.
The operation was conducted in Barangay Panipuan, where authorities found locally manufactured cigarettes branded as “Two Moon,” along with cigarette-making machines and manufacturing paraphernalia bearing the brands Mighty, H&P, Playboy, and Carnival.
The BOC said the same brands were seized in a recent operation in Batangas, suggesting a possible link in an illicit cigarette distribution network currently under investigation.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue is verifying the authenticity of tax stamps recovered at the site and checking compliance with excise tax laws.
Authorities also flagged the cigarette-making machines and raw materials as suspected smuggled items due to the absence of import permits and proper customs documentation.
Operatives also found six Chinese nationals and 63 Filipino nationals inside the compound. The Bureau of Immigration is now verifying the legal status and documentation of the foreign nationals.
Customs officials continue to inventory and assess the seized cigarettes, raw materials, and equipment to determine their value and the corresponding duties, taxes, penalties, and possible violations of customs, tax, immigration, and other related laws.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the operation underscores the agency’s commitment to protect the public and the economy.
“Illicit cigarette manufacturing undermines legitimate businesses, deprives the government of much-needed revenues, and poses serious risks to public health. In line with the President’s directive, the Bureau of Customs will relentlessly pursue those involved in smuggling and illegal manufacturing through sustained enforcement and close coordination with our partner agencies,” Nepomuceno said.
He also reiterated BOC’s commitment to intensifying enforcement actions against smuggling and illicit trade as part of the Marcos administration’s broader agenda of good governance, accountability, and economic protection. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)