The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized P1.94 billion worth of smuggled goods, including dried tobacco, counterfeit products, used clothing, and other items, in a series of operations conducted last week in Bulacan. 

In a statement, the BOC said that the raids were prompted by reports indicating the presence of illicit goods in several warehouses.

The operations were carried out by the BOC's Manila International Container Port-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS), with support from the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). 

The operation spanned three days and involved the inspection of multiple warehouses in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

“Big operations like these take a lot of time and resources but as a testament to the enduring commitment of our officers, we were able to inspect many warehouses in three days and come up with a staggering amount of the smuggled goods being stored there,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said.

The first warehouse, inspected on Nov. 6, 2024, contained suspected smuggled used clothing, used shoes, intellectual property rights infringing goods, branded bags, toys, electric fans, wireless speakers, steel sheets, plastic resins, housewares, kitchenwares, and other general merchandise. 

CIIS Director Verne Enciso noted that these items alone have an estimated value of P1.25 billion.

On Nov. 8, the team inspected another warehouse where they discovered dried tobacco in sacks and cigarette filter rods with an estimated value of P694.4 million. 

“Initially, the warehouse was closed when the team returned on November 8. There was also no representative to acknowledge the Letter of Authority (LOA). But with the barangay and compound representatives present, the team entered the warehouse and found raw materials to make tobacco,” Enciso added.

The BOC has temporarily padlocked the warehouses and will conduct an inventory of the seized goods. 

BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said the warehouse owners and operators were given 15 days to provide documentation proving the goods were legally imported and that all duties and taxes were paid. 

"An operation can only be truly successful if we are able to file and pursue cases against these individuals and organizations," Uy explained.

Failure to provide the necessary documentation will result in charges for violating various sections of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), including misdeclaration, regulated importation and exportation, and property subject to seizure and forfeiture. 

The BOC will also file charges under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, and the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.