On 18 June 2025, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) joined the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum to share its ongoing efforts to fight smuggling. With media partners present, the BOC emphasized its strengthened enforcement efforts and coordination with other agencies to block illegal tobacco, vape, cigarette, and other smuggled goods from entering the country.

On behalf of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, Atty. Leon P. Mogao Jr., Chief of the Investigation Division under the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Intelligence Group, outlined the agency’s intensified initiatives to fortify its enforcement systems, launch strategic operations, and streamline coordination mechanisms with partner agencies. He emphasized that these continuing measures are vital in dismantling illicit tobacco trade networks and deterring the entry of unregulated and harmful products.

Atty. Mogao Jr. reported that in 2024, the Bureau recorded 389 seizures of smuggled tobacco and cigarette products. From January to May 31, 2025, another 96 seizures were recorded. He noted that these figures reflect a decline in the volume of illicit tobacco products entering the country, which may be attributed to the agency’s enhanced enforcement efforts and sustained vigilance.

These initiatives are aligned with the national agenda under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., whose administration has consistently advocated for stronger border protection and the efficient mobilization of public revenues. The BOC’s role in intercepting illicit products directly contributes to the President’s thrust in upholding fiscal integrity and deliver essential programs and services to the Filipino people.

Through coordinated intelligence sharing with agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other law enforcement agencies, the agency is able to mount joint operations, conduct warehouse inspections, and strengthen policy interventions aimed at preventing smuggling at both the point of entry and further downstream in the supply chain.

He also highlighted the agency’s use of modern technology to stay ahead of evolving smuggling schemes. The BOC has incorporated advanced scanning technologies at major ports, enhanced its risk management systems to identify high-risk shipments, and deployed data analytics to monitor irregularities in import transactions.

“These measures reflect our holistic and data-driven approach in curbing illicit tobacco trade,” Commissioner Rubio stated. “By combining innovation, inter-agency coordination, and decisive enforcement, we reaffirm our commitment to protect our economy, our institutions, and, most importantly, the Filipino people.”