(File photo)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized a total of 709 shipments of smuggled goods worth over PHP24 billion in 2022.
In a statement on Wednesday, the bureau said these shipments were seized by its Intelligence Group and Enforcement Group.
Illegal drugs topped the list of goods in terms of value at PHP11.95 billion. It was followed by counterfeit goods amounting to PHP7.69 billion and agricultural products at PHP1.87 billion.
The BOC said 200 Letters of Authority (LOA) were implemented for the same period, 109 of which yielded positive results while 193 alert orders were issued, 120 of which turned out positive for violating pertinent customs laws, rules and regulations.
Of the other high-risk shipments that resulted in the issuance of Warrant and Seizure and Detention (WSD), 88.8 percent are targeted shipments of the Risk Management Office (RMO) for non-intrusive and physical inspection.
This is the result of the improved Risk Management System (RMS) implemented by the BOC to boost its intelligence and enforcement capabilities.
Under the RMS, the Offense Management System was implemented to enhance the BOC’s risk assessment and profiling to support risk management.
In addition, a Compliance Track Record is being maintained as a feedback mechanism that aids trade facilitation by prioritizing the targeting of high-risk importers while facilitating low-risk shipments.
The bureau said it has also implemented the automated listing linked from the Client Profile Registration System, which allows the automatic storing of applications of importers and customs brokers upon the approval of the Account Management Office (AMO). This automation eliminates the traditional manual uploading of company profiles in the RMS.
Also, the BOC launched the National Customs Intelligence System (NCIS), a web portal that acts as a secure data warehouse of intelligence information from the intelligence and enforcement offices of the agency.
The system enables the generation of reports from these offices for a seamless, transparent and comprehensive decision-making analysis resulting in a more responsive border control policy. (PNA)
