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The Bureau of Customs secured a conviction in a P998-million drug smuggling case
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Manila court convicted three persons, sentenced to life in prison, and fined P50 million each
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Seized shipment weighed 146.81 kg, intercepted at the Manila International Container Port in 2019
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has secured the conviction of three individuals in connection with a P998-million drug smuggling case, marking one of its most significant enforcement victories in recent years.
In a decision dated December 9, 2025, the Regional Trial Court of Manila found Muktasil Abundol Assimudin, Emmanuel Paulo Delos Reyes Landicho, and George Sim Fernandez guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 1401(g) in relation to Section 118(g) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The court imposed on each of the accused the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P50 million, the BOC said in a news release.
The case stemmed from the January 2019 seizure of approximately 146.81 kilograms of illegal drugs at the Manila International Container Port, with an estimated street value of over P998 million.
Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the ruling affirms the agency’s enforcement and legal efforts.
“The conviction of those behind this massive drug shipment demonstrates that our enforcement and legal processes are working. We will continue to pursue every case until justice is fully upheld,” Nepomuceno said.
The BOC said it continues to strengthen its legal and enforcement mechanisms to ensure smuggling cases are pursued through to conviction, in line with the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
The bureau reported earlier this week that it has filed 14 criminal cases with the Department of Justice against 40 importers, their representatives, and licensed customs brokers from July 1, 2025 to date.
The cases involve alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10863, including technical smuggling, misdeclaration, and undervaluation of goods to evade the proper payment of duties and taxes.
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