The Bureau of Customs (BOC) increased its anti-smuggling campaign in the first quarter of 2023, filing 65 criminal complaints with the Department of Justice. The majority of these complaints, 49 in total, involve agricultural products, with the remaining complaints involving fuel, food, cigarettes, general merchandise, and used clothing.

According to Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, the BOC’s efforts to combat smuggling have been significantly improved in recent months. “The Bureau of Customs remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguard our country’s borders and to protect our local industries from the harmful effects of smuggling, and we will not rest until we have put an end to this illegal activity,” he said.

The BOC’s anti-smuggling campaign has yielded positive results in recent years, with the agency seizing millions of pesos worth of smuggled goods and filing numerous criminal complaints against smugglers. The agency has also collaborated closely with other government agencies and international organizations to improve border security and combat transnational smuggling syndicates.

With the filing of 65 criminal complaints in the first quarter of 2023 alone, the BOC is sending a strong message to smugglers that their illegal activities will not be tolerated. As Commissioner Rubio emphasized, “we will remain vigilant in our efforts to combat smuggling, and we will not hesitate to take legal action against those who seek to violate our laws and jeopardize the welfare of our nation.”#