Two Bureau of Customs (BOC) operations in the Bicol region led to the seizure of unmarked fuel and a tank truck worth over ₱3.2 million, allegedly involved in illegal sales.

According to the BOC, the crackdown recovered nearly 31,000 liters of fuel and a fuel truck under the government’s Fuel Marking Program (FMP).

District Collector Guillermo Pedro Francia IV said in a Feb. 25 statement that the recent BOC operations in Bicol reflect the agency’s commitment to enforcing fuel regulations, noting that the seizure of non-compliant fuel mirrors their efforts to curb illegal sales and tax evasion.

BOC cited Section 7 the Joint Circular 1.2021 and RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) as the raid’s legal basis.

“We urge all fuel station operators to strictly adhere to regulatory standards to avoid severe consequences,” said District Collector Guillermo Pedro Francia IV.

Cusoms Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said these operations reinforce the agency’s commitment to protecting government revenues and maintaining fair competition for law-abiding businesses.

In a separate operation, BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) intercepted undeclared foreign currencies from a Hong Kong-bound passenger at NAIA Terminal 1 on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Totaling over ₱5 million, the seized foreign currency included 3.95 million Japanese Yen, 20,000 Euros, and 8,500 Kuwaiti Dinars.

“Customs personnel flagged suspicious items during the routine x-ray screening of a hand-carried baggage belonging to a Filipino national departing for Hong Kong. A physical examination of the luggage revealed bundles of foreign currencies concealed inside which the passenger failed to declare,” Customs reported.

The BOC has initiated inquest proceedings against the passenger for violating the CMTA, foreign exchange regulations, the New Central Bank Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

“This apprehension further proves the crucial role of the Bureau of Customs in the recent exit of the Philippines in the Financial Action Task Force’s [FATF] Grey List by continuously demonstrating the cross-border declaration and security measures in place to prevent cash smuggling, contributing to the protection of the nation’s economic interest,” Rubio said, stressing the agency’s unwavering stance on cross-border currency regulations.

Last year, BOC-NAIA intercepted 158 cases of undeclared or misdeclared currencies, marking a nearly 2,000 percent increase from 2023. Year to date, 28 currency-related apprehensions have been recorded as part of ongoing efforts to “protect the borders against illicit monetary flows.”