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BOC seizes P10.2-B illegal drugs in 2022, ramps up border control efforts

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Illegal drugs topped the commodities seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in 2022, just as it said it strengthened border control efforts and mechanisms against illicit trade this year. </p><p>In a release, the Department of Finance (DOF), which supervises the bureau, said around P10.2 billion worth of illegal drugs were confiscated last year.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/14/23/asean-sign-deal-on-trade-customs-clearance">ASEAN sign agreement easing trade customs clearance</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/29/23/marcos-orders-customs-to-beef-up-efforts-vs-hoarding">Marcos orders Customs to beef up efforts vs hoarding; 3 warehouses inspected</a></li></ul><p>Counterfeit products reached P2.45 billion, while smuggled agricultural and cigarette products hit P1.9 billion and P458 million, respectively. </p><p>&quot;To protect Philippine borders from smuggled goods, the BOC seized P15.65 billion worth of illegal goods from July to December 2022 through its intensified anti-smuggling operations,&quot; said the DOF. </p><p>DOF said the BOC was able to improve trade facilitation through the National Single Window (NSW) system. </p><p>NSW streamlines data to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. </p><p>&quot;These efforts have resulted in faster processing of import and export documentation and increased trade compliance, transparency, as well as convenience, which addressed inefficiencies in the system,&quot; the agency said. </p><div><strong>INTERNAL CLEANSING</strong></div><p>DOF also strengthened its internal cleansing measures. In 2022, it said it was able to issue 24 show-cause orders to erring employees. </p><p>A total of 175 individuals under the agency were probed and 5 were charged with administrative cases last year, said the DOF.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/27/19/doj-orders-probe-of-alleged-customs-corruption">DOJ orders probe of alleged Customs corruption</a></li></ul><p>In August, BOC said it is still waiting for an investigation on smuggling and hoarding, including the possibility of public officials being involved in these. </p><p>BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would help build up the cases on individuals involved in the smuggling and hoarding of goods.</p><p>He said he would file cases against personnel from his agency found involved in rice smuggling.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. earlier this year ordered the BOC to <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/29/23/marcos-orders-customs-to-beef-up-efforts-vs-hoarding">strengthen its efforts</a> against rice hoarding and illegal importation. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2781526" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Illegal drugs topped the commodities seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in 2022.