According to a report by Journal on October 17th, Romeo D. Lumagui Jr., the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines, has ordered all tax officials to conduct nationwide raids on illegal e-cigarette retailers and distributors.
Tax office branches and tax district offices across the region have been instructed to monitor and conduct raids on all businesses involved in the illegal sale of e-cigarettes. Authorities emphasize that the main targets of this operation are retailers and distributors, as they are accomplices of e-cigarette smugglers.
Director Lu Maqiu of the BIR emphasized that
Illegal e-cigarette distributors will be subjected to a surprise inspection. They are accomplices to e-cigarette smugglers. Without distributors, there would be no smugglers. Smugglers will be forced to comply with BIR regulations.
The illegal e-cigarette industry has been warned multiple times to follow BIR regulations, but they have repeatedly ignored the law. Therefore, the BIR will intensify its enforcement actions against illegal e-cigarette retailers and distributors. It is anticipated that there will be raids and criminal cases.
The director encouraged the public to report organizations involved in illegal e-cigarette activities to the national tax authority.
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