The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated a record ₱2.39 billion worth of smuggled goods in just two months, from July to August 2025, according to Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
The customs chief stated that the agency conducted 128 enforcement operations, resulting in the seizure of illegal drugs, illicit cigarettes, and agricultural products, as well as other unlawful goods, thereby preventing them from entering local markets.
“Within two months, the BOC intercepted ₱1.230 billion worth of illegal drugs, ₱929 million worth of illicit cigarettes, tobacco, and vape, and ₱178 million worth of agricultural products, among other smuggled goods,” Nepomuceno noted.
The campaign against illegal drugs gained ground through the BOC’s close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, and other law enforcement counterparts.
On July 17, Nepomuceno led the inspection of a shipment at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) that yielded 110.24 kilograms of shabu worth ₱749.63 million — one of the largest drug seizures for the year.
Another operation was conducted on August 22 in a warehouse raid in Plaridel, Bulacan, where operatives discovered ₱605.29 million worth of smuggled cigarettes, marking the largest tobacco-related interception this year.
The crackdown on the smuggling of agricultural products remained one of the agency’s top priorities.
Through the active coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the BOC seized over ₱178 million worth of fishery goods, onions, carrots, poultry, and sugar from July to August, underscoring its efforts to protect local farmers and consumers.
“These operations were conducted in line with R.A. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which classifies large-scale smuggling of farm goods as economic sabotage,” he said.
Nepomuceno also introduced key policy measures to strengthen the BOC’s fight against smuggling and corruption.
On July 2, he issued his first directive suspending all previously approved but unserved Letters of Authority (LOAs) and Mission Orders (MOs) to restore discipline in field operations and prevent unauthorized enforcement activities.
“These results, along with our steadfast commitment to instituting meaningful reforms, stand as strong evidence of our determination to combat smuggling in all its forms,” he said.
