The Bureau of Customs increased its anti-smuggling campaign in the first quarter of the year, filing 65 criminal complaints with the Department of Justice.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said majority of these complaints, 49 in total, involve agricultural products, with the remaining complaints involving fuel, food, cigarettes, general merchandise, and used clothing.
According to Rubio, Customs efforts to combat smuggling have been significantly improved in recent months.
“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 in a statement.
Customs’ 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.
The bureau 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, the Customs is sending a strong message to smugglers that their illegal activities will not be tolerated, Rubio said.
“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 concluded.
