The Bureau of Customs (BOC) played a pivotal role in the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, marking a major achievement in the country’s efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. On February 21, 2025, the FATF officially announced that the Philippines was no longer under increased monitoring, recognizing the government’s strengthened financial safeguards and commitment to international compliance.

Under the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme with the support of United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in collaboration with WCO Customs Experts, successfully convened a five-day mission on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program from February 17-21, 2025.

The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) intercepted undeclared foreign currencies from a departing passenger at NAIA Terminal 1 on February 21, 2025.

In a series of operations under the Fuel Marking Program (FMP), the Bureau of Customs-Legazpi’s Enforcement and Security Service (BOC-ESS), in coordination with Société Générale de Surveillance Philippines successfully identified two gasoline stations in the Bicol Region engaged in the illegal sale of unmarked fuel. Authorities seized 30,891.5 liters of gasoline and diesel worth PhP1.745 million, along with a fuel truck valued at PhP1.5 million, bringing the estimated total confiscated assets to PhP3.245 million.

Another operation by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, led to the discovery of more or less P900 million worth of high-end luxury cars from a Taguig City warehouse.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio lauded this string of operations, the latest of which had the CIIS-MICP team apprehending 44 units of smuggled luxury cars, bearing brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Rolls Royce, among others.

To reinforce its heightened campaign to promote compliance with customs laws and ensure the collection of lawful revenue due to the government as aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of upholding a fair and competitive market while safeguarding the country’s fiscal resources, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has encouraged buyers-in-good faith of imported luxury motor vehicles (including brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren, among others) which are the subjects of Letters of Authority (LOA) recently served in Pasay, Parañaque, Makati, and Taguig, to settle the correct duties and taxes due thereon through voluntary payment scheme.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio is assuring that “heads will roll” if reports are confirmed that some of the agency’s personnel were involved in the discovery of attempted resale of P270 million worth of seized contraband cigarettes from Capas, Tarlac.

As part of the government’s intensified efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal substances in the country under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Bureau of Customs (BOC), successfully intercepted and seized 914 grams of marijuana concealed within assorted items from Bangkok, Thailand, with an estimated value of PhP1,371,000.00.

In furtherance of its mission to strengthen efforts against illicit trade, a composite team of the Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the Philippine Coast Guard-Task Force Aduana (PCG-TFA), conducted an inspection supported by a Letter of Authority (LOA) at a motor service center in Makati City on February 14, 2025. The operation uncovered 16 luxury vehicles and one high-end motorcycle, valued at approximately PhP366 million, suspected to be smuggled.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has successfully advanced digital trade facilitation in ASEAN with the live exchange of the electronic ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) between the Philippines, Lao PDR, and Brunei, as officially announced by the ASEAN Secretariat. This milestone, made possible through the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) regional gateway, marks a significant step toward seamless and efficient cross-border trade in the region.