While the public consider some movie plots as impossible or outrageous, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) takes them seriously as part of the Philippines campaign against smuggling.
Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla pointed out on Wednesday, August 9, that smugglers continue to come up with very creative ways to evade authorities and the law.
Maronilla admitted that the agency compiles ideas from movies, which then undergo the scrutiny of the BOC Intelligence Group.
"Hindi sila natutulog hangga't they perfect ways to smuggle. Even those ideas, kapag may nakikita kami sa pelikula, mga tao iniisip nila na sobra naman iyon pero possible iyon, hindi namin dini-discount iyan," Maronilla said during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime.
"That is put into an intelligence brief, and that is being studied by our intelligence group," he revealed.
During his 2nd State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated that his Administration will go after smugglers, who he blames as one of the reasons the rising prices of agricultural products.
Maronilla shared that Customs has seized around Php 3 billion worth of smuggled agricultural goods in 2023 alone.
"Intensified yung aming campaign against agricultural smuggling. Mahigpit yung bilin ng ating Pangulong Marcos dito. We are using all available assets of the Bureau of Customs," Maronilla assured.
As part of the intensified campaign against smuggling, Maronilla said that BoC coordinates with law enforcement agencies, and intelligence networks both within the Philippines, and in other countries.
"Kailangan namin malaman kung anong mga bansa yung usually dinadaanan or pinangagalingan ng (smuggled goods). Better na may coordination kami doon sa Customs authorities doon," Maronilla explained.
"You know getting very good intelligence is winning half of the battle. Kinakailangan namin na i-beef up iyon," he stressed.
The intensified campaign, and surveillance of ports across the Philippines resulted to a clamp down in technical smuggling but resulted to an increased number of outright smuggling cases in the country.
"Hindi na dumadaan sa ports natin. May mga maliliit na barko na lang na pinaglilipatan sa mga shoreline natin. Very crucial ang role ng Navy and Coast Guard," Maronilla said.
Maronilla mentioned that Customs has prosecuted many smugglers and, currently, has three suspects in detention for smuggling in Bataan.
