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Smuggled vehicles, cigarettes and illegal drugs were among the P769.67 million worth of contraband seized by the Bureau of Customs from January 1 to February 11
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BOC filed 11 criminal cases against 30 suspects and three administrative cases against customs brokers
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BOC completes inspection and investigation of 128 bonded warehouses, and orders closure of 75
The Bureau of Customs seized P769.67 million worth of goods from January 1 to February 11 this year from 33 search and seizure operations that yielded mostly illicit shipments of vehicles, cigarettes and other tobacco products, and illegal drugs.
Preliminary data reported by BOC showed that of the seized goods over the period, vehicles and their accessories accounted for P420 million, followed by cigarettes and other tobacco products worth P221.4 million, and illegal drugs estimated at P46 million.
In his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III during a recent Department of Finance executive committee meeting, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said BOC also seized P44.8 million worth of currency, personal protective equipment, and other medical supplies valued at P30 million, and P6 million worth of agricultural products.
The other seized items were general merchandise, firearms, wildlife and other products worth P1.5 million.
Over the January 1-February 11 period, BOC filed 11 criminal cases with the Department of Justice against 30 respondents suspected of smuggling activities, and three administrative cases against customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission.
BOC also completed the inspection and investigation of customs bonded warehouses, Guerrero said.
From a total of 138 customs bonded warehouses and 245 members of customs common bonded warehouses, 75 had been issued closure orders as of February 11, he added.
