Raps filed vs Palawan trader for illegal sale of imported cigarettes
FORMAL charges have been filed against a trader in Roxas, Palawan for allegedly selling imported cigarettes without paying proper taxes and duties.
Charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was Wenzar Dassan a.k.a. WAWEN, who was recently arrested during an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation-Puerto Princesa District Office (NBI-PUERDO) on May 15, 2021.
Dassan was presented for inquest before the Office of Provincial Prosecutor of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan for violation of Republic Act 1937 otherwise known as the “Tariff and Customs Code” as amended by R.A. 10863.
The operation stemmed from an intelligence report regarding the rampant sale and distribution of imported cigarettes particularly Fortm Bravo, L.A., Sorya, Gudam Garam, R.S. and other imported cigarettes from Malaysia and Indonesia without paying the proper taxes and duties.
To verify the veracity of the report, NBI-PUERDO conducted surveillance and test-buy operations in various public markets in Palawan.
NBI-PUERDO was able to purchase Fort, Bravo and New Berlin cigarettes from Dassan and a certain “Abdul.” Based on the packaging, the cigarettes were manufactured in Malaysia and Indonesia and do not have the proper seal and tax stamps of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, in violation of Republic Act 1937 otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code.
