BOC officials team up with China against smuggling

Officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and their Chinese counterparts agreed yesterday to double their efforts towards a more effective information sharing and intelligence work focused on anti-smuggling operations.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said that members of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the General Administration of China Customs arrived in the country for the enhanced anti-smuggling operations of both countries.

“This renewed commitment of both China and Philippine customs organizations to fight smuggling is a strong signal and warning to smugglers to rethink and stop their illegal trade,” Faeldon said.

Quan Li, Chief of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Xiamen Customs, led the anti-smuggling bureau team composed of Xiang Yang Di, deputy director of the First Investigation; Xenchu Xu, head of the Third Section of Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Xiamen, Gaoqui Airport Customs; Xhixing Wang and Lingzhi Peng, members of Xiamen Customs’ Anti-Smuggling Bureau.

During their discussion, the customs officials of both countries exchanged inputs on how to strengthen and improve communication strategies to put a stop to international illicit trade.

It can be recalled that the raid on a warehouse in Valenzuela City last May, which yielded the second largest drug haul ever recorded in the

country, stemmed from a tip from China Customs.

With the information given by China, the BOC started investigation and eventually tracked down the shipment when it arrived in the country.

During the meeting, Faeldon told the delegation from China that Philippine Customs continues to be on guard against smuggling.

He also emphasized that international cooperation is significant in the country’s campaign against smuggling.