The Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) seized drug shipments worth over P1.125 billion in 2025 as part of enhanced government efforts to combat smuggling of prohibited substances in the country.
This campaign, the BOC said, involved a strong partnership with the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
It led to substantial seizures, including methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) valued at P778.90 million, along with other illicit substances such as ecstasy, hybrid cannabis, and cocaine totaling P346.478 million.
The heightened inspections and intelligence-led operations at the country’s main international gateway directly support the national anti-illegal drug initiative launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the bureau said.
These enforcement actions also align with the directives of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, who stresses the need to bolster the bureau’s intensified anti-drug measures.
“This achievement stems from our intensified campaign against dangerous contraband and anti-social goods at the airport in 2025, in accordance with the directives and programs set forth by Commissioner Nepomuceno,” stated NAIA port collector Yasmin Mapa.
Mapa credited her team and the ongoing support from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA-IADITG for their success in intercepting drug shipments.
She highlighted the significance of vigilance and inter-agency collaboration.
“The outcome underscores the importance of rigorous risk profiling and close cooperation among enforcement units and partner agencies. Our personnel remain vigilant and prepared to respond to any shipment that threatens public safety,” Mapa said.
In December, airport authorities intercepted five unclaimed inbound parcels containing dangerous drugs (shabu and cannabis) with a total estimated value of ₱21,405,900 at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.
The smuggled shipment was falsely declared as various consumer goods, including an outdoor wall lamp, a bag, digital media discs, merchandise, and a book.
Early this month, the same team of operatives arrested three individuals and seized more than P114 million worth of shabu at a cargo warehouse, also in Pasay City. The shipment was misdeclared as malachite stones and originated from Congo.
