The Bureau of Customs, the government’s largest tax agency, has intensified its anti-smuggling campaign in the first quarter of the year resulting in the filing of 65 criminal complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ). In a statement, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said Wednesday, April 12, that the bureau filed 65 criminal cases with the DOJ from January to March, 49 of which involved agricultural products. Rubio said the remaining 16 criminal charges involved smuggling of fuel, food, cigarettes, general merchandise, and used clothing. Customs’ efforts to combat smuggling have been significantly improved in recent months, Rubio noted. "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," Rubio said. The agency’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.  Customs 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 alone, Rubio said the bureau is sending a strong message to smugglers that their illegal activities will not be tolerated.  “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,” he said. In the first three-months of the year, Customs surpassed its first-quarter collection target of  P197.02 billion by 8.4 percent to P213.62 billion. Rubio also reported that Customs collections improved by 13 percent in the first quarter from P188.56 billion in the same period last year. In March alone, Customs collected P80.13 billion, exceeding the P72.28 billion goal for the month by 11 percent. Rubio marked his first full-month of service last month. He attributed the strong collection performance to his five-point priority programs, which focus on digitalizing Customs processes, simplifying procedures, curbing smuggling in all forms, and uplifting employee welfare and development.