Bureau of Customs (BOC) | FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — More than P19.22 billion worth of smuggled items were confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the first quarter of 2023.
This was contained in the report released by the bureau on Tuesday, adding that the most smuggled items now are counterfeit goods which account for more than P13.24 billion of its total haul.
Counterfeit goods are trailed by agricultural products at P2.552 billion and illegal drugs at P849 million.
In 2022, the BOC said it seized more than P24 billion of smuggled items.
READ: BOC: Over P24 billion in smuggled goods seized in 2022
BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio stressed that the exceptional performance of the bureau in the first quarter of the year may be attributed to its commitment to combat smuggling activities. He assured the public that the BOC would remain vigilant towards smuggling attempts while working with other government agencies for broader coverage.
“We will not tolerate any illegal activities that threaten our nation’s welfare and security,” Rubio said in a statement.
“We will remain vigilant in our efforts to combat smuggling and protect our nation’s interests. We will continue to work with our partners in government and the private sector to ensure that our borders are secure and our local industries thrive,” he added.
According to the report, the other seized items are general merchandise, steel products, electronics, medical supplies, jewelry, food, chemicals, currency, fuel, and oil.
The confiscations happened after 123 Alert Orders (AOs) were issued against suspected shipments, while the Commissioner issued 19 Letters of Authority (LOAs) against various warehouses, storage facilities, and stores mentioned in derogatory reports.
The BOC also said they revoked the accreditation of 48 importers and 19 customs brokers for violation of Customs laws.
It likewise cited several high-profile anti-smuggling operations during the first quarter of 2023, such as confiscating P1.4 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes from a warehouse in Sulu on March 2.
This was also the biggest haul of the BOC under the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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