The 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of their respective Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programmes on 19 September 2023. The ASEAN AEO MRA (AAMRA) seeks to provide a predictable and transparent trading environment among AMS.

On October 6, 2023, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) formally lodged two criminal complaints with the Department of Justice against importers engaged in the illicit importation of chemicals and used helicopters, along with associated parts.

The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) personnel attended a seminar on the Principles of Chemical Management that marked a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and enhancing the competency of the agency in the realm of chemical management.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reaffirms its commitment in building robust connections and fostering shared learning among customs administrations by hosting the 34th Meeting of the ASEAN Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group (CECWG) in Davao City from October 3 to 5, 2023.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P79.225 billion in duties and taxes, surpassing its September 2023 goal of P76.445 billion by P2.780 billion or 3.64%.

The BOC also topped its revenue target for January to September 2023, netting P660.716 billion, surpassing its goal of P644.185 billion by 2.57%, or P16.531 billion.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed four (4) criminal complaints against three (3) rice traders on September 29, 2023, following recent seizures and investigations in various warehouses in Bulacan.

The Metropolitan Trial Court – National Judicial Capital Region Branch 24 rendered its verdict on September 8, 2023, declaring Divina Bisco Aguilar, the proprietor of Real Mart, guilty of violating Customs laws by misdeclaring a shipment of carrots as frozen pastry buns. This conviction resulted from a criminal complaint filed by the BOC on September 10, 2020, with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The specialized training in customs laboratory processes was joined by the BOC team, led by Atty. Yasser Ismail A. Abbas, CESO IV, Director III of the Imports and Assessment Service (IAS). It was hosted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korea International Cooperation Services (KOICS), Korean Central Customs Laboratory (KCCL), and Korea Customs Service (KCS).

In furtherance of the strengthened campaign of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) against illegal drugs, the BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), in collaboration with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), apprehended two (2) travellers found with cocaine concealed inside their luggage.

The Bureau of Customs—Port of Subic, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), has successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle narcotics valued at P3.8 billion.