The Bureau of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has intensified its efforts against individuals transporting currency exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent in Philippine pesos.
Since January, the Port of NAIA has recorded 28 apprehensions of air travelers who violated this policy.
In 2024, the port intercepted 158 individuals for falsely declaring currencies, marking a 2,000 percent increase from 2023.
The most recent apprehension occurred at NAIA Terminal 1, where a traveler was caught carrying 3,950,000 Japanese Yen (JPY), 20,000 Euros (EUR), and 8,500 Kuwaiti Dinars (KWD).
Customs personnel flagged suspicious items during routine x-ray screening of the passenger’s hand-carried luggage bound for Hong Kong. A physical examination of the bag revealed bundles of foreign currency hidden inside, which the passenger had failed to declare.
NAIA district collector Yasmin Mapa said inquest proceedings the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the Manual of Regulations on Foreign Exchange Transactions, The New Central Bank Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Last month, Customs at NAIA also deployed K-9 sniffing dogs to combat the rising number of passengers attempting to smuggle large amounts of cash out of the country.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio emphasized the bureau’s firm stance on cross-border currency regulations.
“This apprehension underscores the crucial role of the Bureau of Customs in the Philippines’ recent exit from the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List. It demonstrates our commitment to cross-border declaration and security measures aimed at preventing cash smuggling and protecting the nation’s economic interests,” he said.