The Bureau of Customs said it had confiscated P13.17 billion worth of tobacco products since 2019.
It said in a presentation during the two-day Tobacco Summit at the Shangri-La at the Fort authorities seized 726 shipments in the past four and a half years.
The BOC said these included 79 shipments in 2019 with total value of P2.66 billion, 204 shipments of illicit tobacco amounting to P5.77 billion in 2020, 131 shipments worth P1.71 billion in 2021 and 192 shipments valued at P1.12 billion in 2022.
It said illicit tobacco intercepted by agency reached 152 shipments valued at P1.88 billion in the first half of 2023.
The BOC said the first-half figure already breached the 2022 full level and may hit P3 billion by end-2023.
It said it also filed 51 cases against illegal tobacco traders with combined dutiable value of P1.3 billion in the past five and a half years.
The BOC said the easing of border controls might have contributed to the surge in smuggling. The agency said it had been proactive in the evaluation and reorganization of its offices aiming to improve services to the public and prevent over-familiarization of current assignments.
The BOC also established the Customs Operations Center to serve as a fusion hub to integrate and analyze intelligence, enforcement and operational information gathered from various sources.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service director Verne Enciso said this is one of the measures identified to prevent smuggling across the country’s borders and keep BOC officers on the lookout for anomalous movements.
The BOC’s water patrol division conduct regular maritime patrol and fights ships smuggling in Philippine waters.
Enciso said the BOC would continue to reaffirm its commitment to be vigilant against the entry of smuggled goods and cognizant in protecting Philippine borders.
Meanwhile, the National Tobacco Administration recognized Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. for his consistent leadership and programs against illicit tobacco products.
Commissioner Lumagui received his award during the NTA on Aug. 3, 2023. He discussed the topic of ramping up government initiatives to combat illicit trade.
“Illicit tobacco products is a scourge of our economy. The BIR will hunt down all illegal traders of tobacco. We must level the playing field so we can attract investors. We have done nationwide raids of illicit tobacco products, and we will continue to do so” he said.
Under the administration of Lumagui, the BIR had its first nationwide raid of illicit tobacco products in January 2023. He repeated this with another nationwide raid in July 2023.
Lumagui said the award serves as recognition to the efforts made by hundreds of revenuers that participated in the nationwide raids against illicit tobacco