Philippine Customs Bureau: $1.5 Billion in Smuggled Goods Were Seized in 2024, And E-cigarette Products Were Strictly Investigated

Philippine Customs Bureau: $1.5 billion in smuggled goods were seized in 2024, and e-cigarette products were strictly investigated

The Philippine Customs Bureau seized $1.5 billion worth of smuggled goods in 2024, with e-cigarette products as the focus of the crackdown.

The Philippine Customs Bureau (BOC) seized more than 85 billion pesos ($1.5 billion) worth of smuggled items during its anti-smuggling operations in 2024, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported on Feb. 12.

Bienvenido Rubio, director of the Customs Bureau, said the smuggled items were seized through more than 2,100 anti-smuggling operations conducted last year, including counterfeit goods, illegal drugs, smuggled tobacco and e-cigarette products.

Mr. Rubio said it was in response to a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to guarantee national security and economic stability.

To strengthen compliance with regulations, the bureau also revoked the certifications of 56 importers and customs agents for violating customs regulations and initiated 45 criminal cases against the smugglers involved.