• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A Chinese national is facing charges for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code, after the confiscation of about P7.825 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from his possession during an operation in Bacolod City on Aug. 29.
The joint operation of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit-Negros Island Region and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), in coordination with Police Station 9, led to the arrest of Ke Kunming alias “Allan”, 41.
According to the CIDG, the suspect allegedly engaged in selling and trading of smuggled cigarettes without any authority from the Philippine government.
Operatives confiscated 42 boxes of Carnival (red) cigarettes, 271 packs of Carnival cigarettes, 10 packs of New Berlin cigarettes, and one rim of Nise cigarettes.
The CIDG and BIR vowed to continue working together in the fight against tax evasion and illicit trade in the region, they said in a statement. | GB
