The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has partnered with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to strengthen case buildup against the financiers and masterminds behind large-scale smuggling operations.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the partnership aims to move beyond routine border enforcement by allowing agencies to share resources, deepen investigations and build stronger cases against organized smuggling groups.
“Hindi namin kayang gawin ito nang mag-isa. Kailangan magtulungan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno lalo na sa pag-iimbestiga at pagbuo ng kaso para masigurong napapanagot hindi lang ang maliliit na sangkot kundi pati ang mas malalaking tao at grupo na nasa likod nito,” Nepomuceno said.
The initiative supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for government agencies to intensify the campaign against smuggling.
Nepomuceno said the goal is not only to file cases, but to ensure that investigations are thorough enough to identify and hold accountable the key players behind illegal trade.
The BOC said the joint effort with the DOJ and NBI is expected to improve intelligence-sharing, strengthen legal action and support a more coordinated government response against smuggling networks.