BOC HAULS IN P132M IN SMUGGLED GOODS, DRUGS
At the Port of Cebu, NAIA; MOA with PDEA renewed
TWO collection districts of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have hauled in more than P132 million of confiscated smuggled products and illegal drugs for the month of June, further boosting the government’s campaign against smuggling.
In a report from Port of Cebu (POC) district collector, Atty. Charlito Martin Mendoza, to Comm. Rey Leonardo ‘Jagger’ Guerrero, a total of P84,320,000.00, in foiled smuggling attempts was recorded by the port last month.
Mendoza said the apprehended goods were either “undeclared, misdeclared or undervalued,” which are all forms of technical smuggling.
Additionally, the official also told Guerrero that POC has also auctioned off confiscated goods that brought in an additional P2.136 million in revenue.
The Port of Cebu is among the 11 collection districts of the BOC, out of its 17 collection districts, to be cited as contributing to the surpassing of its collection target for June.
At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), district collector, Atty. Carmelita ‘Mimel’ Talusan reported to Guerrero that the bulk of the port’s apprehension consisted mainly of 23 shipments of illegal drugs worth more than P48 million from January to June.
Additionally, the NAIA also seized P1.3 million worth of illegally imported meat products and luxury watches, P1.5 million in undeclared currency and, P2.5 million worth of ‘Chinese medicines’ purportedly as cure for COVID-19.
Talusan also said that from January to June, her port generated P15.49 billion in revenue, although this still fell short of her assigned revenue target.
Meanwhile, Guerrero last July 14, 2020, renewed the bureau’s partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) with the signing of another memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PDEA chief, Wilkins Villanueva.
The MOA aims to further improve intelligence sharing and operational coordination between the BOC and PDEA, the customs chief said.
