Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno reported a heightened nationwide anti-smuggling campaign targeting illicit cigarettes and illegal drugs, which has resulted in the seizure of ₱1.8 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes and cigarette manufacturing materials and ₱760 million worth of dangerous drugs as of March 2, 2026.
Speaking during the 1st Flag Raising Ceremony for the month of March, Nepomuceno said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intensified intelligence-led and inter-agency-coordinated enforcement operations in line with the directive of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen border security and combat illicit trade, leading to hundreds of successful seizure actions across the country’s ports of entry.
“In 2025 alone, the BOC conducted 1,024 interdiction operations, including 143 drug seizures valued at ₱5.630 billion and 317 cigarette-related seizures amounting to ₱1.8 billion.”
He reported that in 2025 alone, the BOC conducted 1,024 interdiction operations, including 143 drug seizures valued at ₱5.630 billion and 317 cigarette-related seizures amounting to ₱1.8 billion, reflecting the Bureau’s sustained efforts to curb smuggling and protect lawful trade.
Nepomuceno attributed these results to stronger inter-agency cooperation and robust data-sharing, noting the BOC’s close collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other partner agencies.
“Our personal relationships with other heads of agencies are very strong, and this is the main reason why inter-agency trust is now high and effective.”
“Our personal relationships with other heads of agencies are very strong, and this is the main reason why inter-agency trust is now high and effective,” he emphasized.
As a part of this strengthened inter-agency coordination, the BOC and PDEA recently formalized a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on 26 February 2026, establishing integrated databases, real-time information-sharing, and enhanced scanning and inspection protocols at ports of entry to ensure faster interdictions and seamless joint operations.
Demonstrating firm operational resolve, the BOC, through its intelligence and enforcement units, mounted a sweeping campaign that resulted in the confiscation of ₱634.858 million in smuggled cigarettes across Western Mindanao and Zamboanga City — the largest single-day cigarette-related crackdown since 2025. These operations signal the BOC’s sustained and aggressive push to dismantle smuggling networks, combatting the proliferation of smuggled tobacco products that may undermine public health and deprive the government of lawful revenues.
On February 9, 2026, a major interdiction was carried out in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), leading to the interception of a shipment at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) containing an estimated ₱272 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) misdeclared as “marble.” The operation marks the largest drug haul recorded by the BOC so far this year.
Anchored on the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to secure the nation’s economic foundations, these enforcement efforts reflect a firm commitment to protecting lawful trade and preserving fair market conditions.
