The Bureau of Customs on Tuesday commended the Ninoy Aquino International Airport collection district office for its record-breaking achievements in securing Philippine borders from dangerous contraband and anti-social goods.
The Customs-NAIA, under the leadership of district collector Carmelita Talusan, continues to strengthen its campaign and close coordination with other regulating agencies to secure the borders and protect the environment from unscrupulous traders engaged in smuggling of wildlife, dangerous drugs, firearms, contaminated meat, and other prohibited goods, among others.
Among the achievements of the Customs Collection District III (NAIA) this year include the confiscation of smuggled 4,496 kilos of meat and meat products to prevent the African swine fever outbreak and 3,084 live endangered species at the airport.
The recent apprehension of contaminated meat on May 29 happened when Customs agents intercepted at Manila airport a total of 84 kilos from Japan with no Bureau of Animal Industry clearance and health certificate.
Customs agents at the NAIA also intercepted the illegal importation of 358 pieces of concealed live ammunitions, 10 guns and 46 pieces of gun parts; and P15 million worth of mobile phones and gadgets.
Since January this year, Talusan’s men busted 46 cases prohibited drugs —cocaine, shabu, marijuana, and ecstasy mostly smuggled from the United States, China, and European countries.
Last month, the Customs operatives confiscated parcel shipments of 1,490 tablets of ecstasy, 3,320 tablets of valium and 1,850 grams of high-grade kush weeds/marijuana described by the importers as “gifts, letters and snacks”.
The P2.3 million worth ecstasy tablets from Germany was declared as gift and the P2.9 million kush/marijuana from USA were declared as snacks (tortilla chips).
The Customs – NAIA also posted an eight percent revenue, which is higher than last year’s contribution to the bureau.
“The Bureau of Customs is very much on board in the country’s war against dangerous items, especially drugs, and we will exert our efforts to continue protecting our nation and prevent the use of our ports in smuggling,” said Talusan
The campaign, according to Talusan, is in line with the reform programs and the 10-point priority agenda of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
Commissioner Guerrero came up with a 10-point priority program for 2019 to further strengthen the agency and implement operational efficiencies.
The programs include Enhancement of Information and Technology System; Hiring Capable Workers; Provision of incentives for Customs employees; Restructuring of Customs organization and facilities; Enhancement of Cargo Clearance and Examination Capabilities; Enhancement of Intelligence and Enforcement Capabilities; Codification and Harmonization of IRRs, Administrative Orders and Memorandum Orders; Creation of a Quality Management System & Integrity System, and Pursue the Passage of Customs-Related Legislative Measures.
Guerrero said that these priorities are anchored on improving organizational efficiency, upgrading individual proficiencies and strengthening institutional capabilities.
“We are taking the lessons learned and putting them to work, for the development of the Bureau in the short-term and over the long haul,” Guerrero said.
“The bottomline is clear: our targets can be achieved and surpassed with professionalism, integrity, and teamwork,” he added.
