Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno lauded the vital collaboration between the BOC and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following a string of highly successful enforcement operations in Manila and Cebu that resulted in the seizure of approximately ₱2.5 billion in illicit cigarettes.
Commissioner Nepomuceno specifically highlighted the invaluable role of the NBI under the decisive leadership of Director Melvin Matibag, noting that the agency’s actionable intelligence was the linchpin of the entire operation.
“These consecutive, high-impact operations demonstrate what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies seamlessly sync their efforts,” said Commissioner Nepomuceno. “The precise intelligence provided by Director Matibag and the NBI team allowed us to strike swiftly and effectively, cutting off a massive supply chain of smuggled goods.”
Key highlights of the operation:
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The Seizure: Approximately ₱2.5 billion worth of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes.
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The Locations: Multi-point enforcement actions conducted across strategic hubs in Manila and Cebu.
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The Strategy: Driven by intelligence-sharing, tactical synchronization, and swift inter-agency execution.
The massive haul is part of the government’s intensified crackdown on smuggling, which deprives the country of vital tax revenues and undermines legitimate local businesses.
Commissioner Nepomuceno reaffirmed the BOC’s commitment to strengthening its partnerships with agencies like the NBI to fortify the nation’s borders against economic sabotage. Investigations are currently underway to identify and prosecute the individuals and syndicates behind the smuggled shipments.
