MANILA – The Embassy of the United States in Manila expressed optimism that the Philippines will be able to improve its currency smuggling detection and contraband interdiction, after the United States Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted an exchange visit in Los Angeles, California recently, for the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) to discuss and share best practices on port security and operations.
According to the U.S. Embassy, one of the key topics of the exchange visit was also the sharing of best practices in airport currency smuggling detection and enforcement, and exchange of information on enforcement and investigation with special agents from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)-based Homeland Security Investigations office.
“The best practices we have observed and the discussions we had with our U.S. counterparts will help us when the BOC formulates new policies and improves operational guidelines when we go back to the Philippines,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy stated that Philippine visitors benefited from the expertise of CBP officers in airport currency smuggling detection and enforcement, which was arranged by the EXBS program.
“Our Philippine visitors benefited from the expertise of CBP officers in airport currency smuggling detection and enforcement, which was all arranged under the EXBS program. In the future, we are planning to bring CBP experts to the Philippines to assist the BOC in identifying travellers with undeclared currency entering and exiting the country,” said Ransom Avilla, the Regional EXBS Advisor assigned at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
The EXBS program is under the Export Control Cooperation Office of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Security and Non-proliferation, and provides training workshops for partner countries like the Philippines.
According to the U.S. Embassy, such trainings feature CBP experts and investigators from the Homeland Security Investigations Office.
“The security exchange program includes training in international air cargo interdiction, seaport interdiction, and counter proliferation investigation,” the Embassy stated.
“Through the EXBS program, the United States continues to support the Philippine government in improving its border security capabilities, strengthening its strategic trade management system, and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” the Embassy added.
The Philippine delegation was led by BOC Commissioner Rubio, Deputy Commissioner for the Assessment Group Vener Baquiran, and District Collectors from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila International Container Port, and the ports of Clark, Manila, and Cebu.
The delegation visited various CBP ports and facilities in Los Angeles, California, including the Long Beach Seaport, LAX, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Base, and the Air and Marine Operations Center in Riverside.
