The Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Clark intercepted a shipment from the United States containing PhP250,116 worth of cannabis-infused vapes.

As part of its intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), intercepted a parcel containing Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, commonly known as “shabu,” valued at PhP111,112,000 on September 26, 2024.

On October 3, 2024, the Bureau of Customs – Port of Manila (BOC-POM) inspected and seized a shipment of 25,000 kilograms of fresh onions valued approximately at PhP2 million. The said shipment arrived from China.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) disclosed during the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” event on October 2, 2024 that it seized Php 6.5 billion worth of smuggled vape products in 36 operations carried out between October 2023 and August 2024. The operations were part of the Bureau’s intensified campaign to combat the illegal importation of vape products.

On October 1, 2024, the Australian Border Force (ABF) led by Tim Fitzgerald, Deputy Commissioner of National Operations, paid a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to enhance the collaborative efforts between the two administrations in strengthening border protection.

The crew of MT Tritrust and MT Mega Ensoleilee, the two fuel tankers caught by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the act of illegal transfer of smuggled fuel at Navotas Fish Port, will face charges for transporting unmarked fuel in commercial quantities.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the United Nations (UN) ESCAP recently published a study entitled: “National Feasibility Study on Cross-border Electronic Exchange of Trade-related Data and Documents: The Philippines,” which assesses the readiness of the Philippines in implementing electronic trade data exchange with potential partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

The study is accessible in the ESCAP website at https://tinyurl.com/PH-Feasibility-Study.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has recently completed an intensive training program on Capacity Building for Customs Laboratory Processes in South Korea. The training was held from August 4 to August 17, 2024.

The Bureau of Customs and the World Customs Organization successfully completed a five-day session focused on analyzing internal corruption risks and ways of mapping it out. The mission took place from September 23 to 27, 2024, and involved experts from the World Customs Organization (WCO). This initiative, conducted under the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, as supported by the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, aimed to further strengthen the BOC’s anti-corruption and integrity measures.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) successfully convened its 7th Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC) meeting at the Manila Hotel on September 27, 2024, hosted by the Association of Off-Dock & CY/CFS Operators of the Philippines (ACOP), the Philippine Multimodal Transport & Logistics Association, Inc. (PMTLAI), and the United Port-users Confederation of the Philippines (UPC).