The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted more than ₱80 billion worth of smuggled goods as part of its intensified anti-smuggling operations, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said Friday.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Nepomuceno said the seized goods included agricultural products, cigarettes, and luxury vehicles.
“Sa pakikipaglaban sa smuggling, maganda po almost P80 billion worth na po ang kabuuang mga smuggle goods na naharang po natin” Nepomuceno said.
As of September 18, the BOC has filed 85 cases against 274 respondents in connection with its anti-smuggling efforts.
Nepomuceno said the intensified operations were being carried out under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Finance Secretary Frederick Go.
He acknowledged that the agency still has challenges to address but said reforms at the BOC were gradually being implemented.
“Hindi pa tayo tapos sa problema natin sa BOC, marami pa tayong aayusin subalit unti-unti napapaganda naman po natin kahit papaano,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nepomuceno said the BOC recorded a collection surplus despite a 7% to 10% decline in the volume of petroleum imports.
He attributed the decline to the geopolitical tensions that began in late February, which affected global oil supply chains.
“Ang kabuuan po kung ikukumpra natin sa 2025 na volume bumaba po nitong nagkagera kasi yung gera po kasi nagsimula February 28, so naramdaman po natin base sa data, bumababa po talaga ng 7-10% yung volume. Subalit yung halaga, umangat naman po ‘yung collection po ng bantay, yung pinaka revenues po natin diyan,” he said.
