The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed 65 criminal charges against suspected smugglers before the Department of Justice (DOJ), as the agency intensified its fight against all forms of smuggling in the country.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said a majority of the complaints filed with the justice department include agricultural products, fuel, food, cigarettes, general merchandise, and used clothing.
Rubio said the BOC’s efforts to combat smuggling have been significantly improved in recent months.
“The Bureau of Customs remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguard our country’s borders and to protect our local industries from the harmful effects of smuggling, and we will not rest until we have put an end to this illegal activity,” he said.
The BOC’s anti-smuggling campaign has yielded positive results in recent years, with the agency seizing millions of pesos worth of smuggled goods and filing numerous criminal complaints against smugglers.
The agency has also collaborated closely with other government agencies and international organizations to improve border security and combat transnational smuggling syndicates.
With the filing of 65 criminal complaints in the first quarter of 2023 alone, the BOC is sending a strong message to smugglers that their illegal activities will not be tolerated.
Rubio further said the BOC’s efforts to combat smuggling have been significantly improved in recent months.
“We will remain vigilant in our efforts to combat smuggling, and we will not hesitate to take legal action against those who seek to violate our laws and jeopardize the welfare of our nation,” Rubio said.
Earlier, Rubio said the Customs posted a strong collection performance in the first quarter of 2023 that exceeded its revenue target by 8.43 percent or P16.6 billion.
He said total collection in the first three months reached P213.619 billion, higher than the revenue target of P197.020 billion for the period.
For the month of March alone, the collection of P80.133 billion has exceeded its target of P72.282 billion by P7.851 billion or 10.86 percent. With Julito G. Rada