MANILA - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) launched Tuesday hotline number "8484" to allow the public to report any BOC official or employee who may be involved in corruption activities.

The hotline will allow the public to directly report any BOC official or employee of their irregular transactions as well as brokers, importers and fixers and other entities involved in smuggling, bribery, illegal drugs and other illegal activities.

Citizens can send a text message to 8484 regarding suspected corruption-related incidents with confidentiality, the BOC said in a statement.

BOC said the hotline system was established for the public in order to voice their complaints without fear of retaliation and helping the Bureau get rid of corrupt practices.

The 8484 hotline is initially available for Globe/TM users.

President Rodrigo Duterte had tagged Customs as among the most corrupt agencies in the government.

In 2018, he wanted the military to take over the corruption-plagued bureau after billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs slipped past its watch in 2018.