The Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Enforcement Security Service (ESS), acquired two units of Trace Detection Systems (TDS) on April 22, 2022. The deployment of the said machines in Davao Region will further intensify its security measures against the entry of contrabands.

Deputy Commissioner Allan C. Geronimo from the  Management Information Systems and Technology Group of the Bureau of Customs is scheduled to present the Philippines’ experience in the drafting of the Readiness Assessment for Cross-Border Paperless Trade: The Philippines, including the benefits and challenges of conducting the readiness assessment during the eCommerce Week 2022 side event “Advancing Cross-Border Paperless Trade: Nurturing A Digital Trade Environment” on 28 April 2022 at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST.

In its bid to strengthen its measures to provide efficient government service to all of its stakeholders, the Bureau of Customs – Port of NAIA expressed its committed support and assistance, in preparation for the Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) Crisis and Disaster Management Conference and Exhibition, to various agencies and organizers during an inter-agency meeting, especially to the arriving participants from the 25 countries consisting of delegates from ASEAN military counterparts and ministerial-level officials.

The Bureau of Customs, through the Manila International Container Port-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS), together with the National Bureau of Investigation-Special Action Unit (NBI-SAU) seized various Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringing goods in Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela City on April 22, 2022.

In pursuit of transforming and reforming the Bureau of Customs, its processes and services, the BOC enrolled to the 4-Stage Performance Governance System (PGS) of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) in 2019. After two and a half years, the bureau today, April 20, 2022, led by Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, passed the Institutionalization Stage or the fourth and final stage of the PGS Pathway with a GOLD Governance Trailblazer Award, the highest PGS award.

In line with the agency’s mandate of protecting the country’s borders against the entry of illicit goods, the Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic condemned assorted brands of counterfeit cigarettes with an estimated market value of Php 38 million on April 19, 2022.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), through its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Intellectual Property Rights Division (CIIS-IPRD), seized smuggled counterfeit and unregistered health products with an estimated value of Php 31,500,000.00 in two (2) operations on April 19, 2022 in Santa Cruz, Manila.

In pursuit of transparency and border security, the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG), through the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) of the Legal Service filed 30 criminal and administrative cases against erring importers and customs brokers who profusely violated customs laws, rules, and regulations.

A team composed of personnel from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) of the Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP), Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Trade and Industry, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Economic Intelligence Sub Task Group on Food Security busted imported carrots and ginger openly for sale in C.M. Recto Ave., Divisoria, and Tondo, Manila on April 19, 2022.

To consistently intensify its border protection capabilities against the entry of illegal drugs, the Bureau of Customs, through the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), launches 16 units of Trace Detection System (TDS) which shall be deployed in various ports nationwide from April to May 2022.