The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized nearly P35 billion worth of smuggled goods from January to August, underscoring the agency’s intensified border control operations and continuing efforts to curb illicit trade and protect government revenues.
Carrying out 653 seizure operations, the border patrol bureau said it has confiscated P34.73 billion worth of smuggled goods during the eight-month period.
The collection on seized items is only 41 percent of last year’s full year record of P85.16 billion.
BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla explained that last year’s figures were largely driven by letters of authority, which have now been suspended, noting that many of the operations involved were conducted outside the bureau.
‘Now we look at the complaints, when that is back, we are not keen on catching up. I think whatever the figure is, what’s important for us is the industry feels we’re doing something and there’s a reduction of the effect of smuggling in their fields,’ Maronilla said.
Letters of authority are official BOC directives that empower customs officers to carry out specific enforcement actions, such as requesting proof of duty and tax payments on imported merchandise.
In July, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno halted the execution of all previously approved letters of authority that had not yet been served.
Maronilla said they are reviewing and streamlining safety measures for the issuance of letters of authority to prevent potential abuse based on intelligence reports.
‘Especially in the intellectual property, most particularly agriculture and the tobacco and vape industry,’ he said, referring to stronger patrols in several industries.
According to the report, the top five highest-valued seized commodities were various goods worth P20.16 billion and wildlife and natural resources at P4.78 billion.
Also among the most confiscated smuggled goods were illegal drugs valued at P4.6 billion, cigarettes, tobacco, and vape products worth P2.1 billion, along with counterfeit items amounting to P1.4 billion, according to the BOC.
Still in the eight-month period, the BOC has revoked the accreditation of 40 erring importers and customs brokers as part of its crackdown on trade law violators.