With over P85 billion added to government coffers through its anti-smuggling drive last year, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to launch an even more relentless campaign against illicit traders in 2025.

“We are intensifying our crackdown on illicit trade to protect local industries, ensure food security, and promote a level playing field for businesses,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said in a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

“Smuggling is not just an economic issue—it is a national security concern that affects every Filipino,” Rubio added.

Last year, the BOC conducted over 2,100 successful anti-smuggling operations, leading to the seizure of illicit goods worth P85.167 billion.

“These enforcement actions targeted various illicit items, including counterfeit products, illegal drugs, smuggled tobacco and vape goods, and agricultural products that pose risks to farmers and consumers alike,” the country's second-biggest revenue agency said.

According to the BOC, these ramped-up efforts against illicit trade stemmed from the recognition that “smuggling not only undermines government revenues but also threatens local industries, public safety, and food security.”

Also in 2024, the BOC continued to enforce the fuel marking program, which ensured correct tax payments for nearly 20 billion liters of oil products. Translating to a five-percent increase from 2023, this program generated over P242 billion in tax revenues last year, while also “curbing fuel smuggling that distorts fair market competition.”

On compliance with customs regulations, the Bureau revoked the accreditations of 56 importers and customs brokers last year for various violations. It also filed 45 criminal cases against individuals allegedly involved in smuggling.

“With these aggressive measures, the BOC continues to uphold its mandate of protecting the country’s borders, ensuring fair trade, and fostering national development,” the agency said.

This week, the BOC intercepted six inbound parcels containing kush, a high-grade strain of marijuana, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), the BOC confiscated a total of 3.231 kilograms of kush, with an estimated street value of over P4.5 million.

Following this, BOC-NAIA assured the public that it continues to upgrade its screening and enforcement capabilities, which would ensure “stricter monitoring of high-risk shipments.”