THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized P34.725 billion worth of various goods, natural resources, cigarettes and illegal drugs smuggled into the country as of end-August.
In his presentation of the BOC’s accomplishment report on Tuesday, Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla said the bureau carried out 653 seizure operations from January to August this year, confiscating P34.725 billion worth of illicit items.
Confiscated various goods, such as general merchandise, topped the list of the highest-valued commodities, totaling P20.156 billion as of end-August.
This was followed by wildlife and natural resources amounting to P4.784 billion and illegal drugs valued at P4.562 billion.
The BOC also intercepted smuggled cigarettes, tobacco, e-cigarettes and vape products worth P2.104 billion.
Counterfeit goods, such as fake branded apparel and accessories, pegged at P1.041 billion, were also apprehended.
Maronilla also reported the BOC’s ‘record-breaking’ seizures during the month of July to August, conducting 128 seizure operations of smuggled products amounting to P2.390 billion.
The seizure of illicit cigarettes valued at P605.29 million in Plaridel, Bulacan, on August 2 was highlighted, which marked the largest cigarette seizure for this year.
According to the Department of Finance, the government could suffer a revenue loss of about P150 billion this year due to smuggling.
This estimated figure refers to potential revenue losses on the part of the BOC, covering foregone collections from general merchandise and oil.
Maronilla told BusinessMirror earlier that the BOC is strengthening its anti-smuggling measures to offset possible losses from illicit trade.
Maronilla said a new team at the BOC has already come up with a comprehensive anti-smuggling program focused on possible misdeclarations and technical smuggling.
The BOC is also working on revising a cooperation agreement with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to effectively guard the country’s borders against smugglers.
To further plug expected losses, Maronilla said the BOC is also banking on its Fuel Marking Program as one of the agency’s main revenue drivers, as well as other revenue sources, such as cars, steel and chemicals.
The BOC has collected a total of P622.468 billion from January to August this year, higher by 1.3 percent than the P614.395 billion raised during the same period last year.
In the first seven months, the BOC collected P1.520 billion from non-traditional revenue sources through the Post Clearance Audit Group and P43.267 million from Public Auctions.
This year, the BOC will collect P958.7 billion, which makes up 21.20 percent of the government’s full-year revenue target of P4.520 trillion.