NBI, BOC, NAGSANIB-PWERSA LABAN SA SMUGGLING

NAGDEKLARA sina National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag at Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno ng ‘intensified and uncompromising campaign’ laban sa smuggling at iligal na pagbebenta nito.

Ito ay ginawa sa isang joint press conference at inspeksyon ng mga kumpiskadong illicit cigarettes sa Gothong Wharf sa Mandaue City nitong July 11, 2026 na dinaluhan nina NBI Regional Director Atty. Dominador Cimafranca, Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu District Collector Atty. Zsae Carrie C. De Guzman, officials at representatives ng BOC, NBI at Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), kasunod ng pagsuri nina Commissioner Nepomuceno at Director Matibag sa 25 seized containers na naglalaman ng illicit cigarettes na may halagang ?980 million.

Ang nasabing shipment ay na-intercept kasunod ng intelligence information na binuo ng NBI, na siyang nagtulak sa Customs authorities na magsagawa ng inspeksyon at enforcement operations laban sa suspected containers na bahagi ng 59 containers ng illicit cigarettes na na-intercept ng BOC sa tuloy-tuloy na enforcement operations at may halagang higit sa ?3 billion. Ang iba pang containers ay naka-secure sa ibang lokasyon sa ilalim ng government custody.

Tiniyak ni Nepomuceno ang “BOC declaration of an all-out war against smuggling and illicit trade, emphasizing that enforcement efforts will extend beyond the seizure of contraband to the aggressive prosecution of the individuals and businesses responsible.”

“Hindi kami maaareglo when it comes to the filing of cases against people and businesses involved in smuggling and illicit trade. Hindi titigil ang BOC sa pagkumpiska ng mga iligal na kargamento. Hahabulin natin ang buong supply chain at sisiguruhing mapanagot ang lahat ng sangkot sa ilalim ng buong puwersa ng batas,” ani Nepomuceno dahil aniya, “smuggling is a form of economic sabotage that deprives the government of revenues, harms legitimate businesses, and undermines economic stability. He vowed to relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those involved in illicit trade.”

Si Matibag ay nagdeklara din ng commitment sa paklikipag-ugnayan sa BOC upang imbestigahan at makasuhan ang mga nasa likod ng organized smuggling operations at aniya, isang Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) sa pagitan ng BOC, NBI at iba pang partner law enforcement agencies ang malapit nang makumpleto upang palakasin ang intelligence-sharing, joint operations at coordinated case build-up.

“The inspection reflects the government’s sustained efforts to dismantle smuggling syndicates through intensified enforcement, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and swift legal action,”ani Matibag. (JERRY S. TAN)