The Cordilleran-led Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) of the Bureau of Customs has been recognized anew for its officials’ border-protection efforts during its 121st founding anniversary for the “strategic execution” of the agency’s anti-smuggling operations that led to “multiple successful apprehensions”.
The agency also recognized the services of its collection districts and offices during its celebration at Manila’s South Harbor on Feb. 7.
CIIS Director Jeoffrey Tacio of Atok, Benguet received the plaque of recognition from Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.
The plaque recognized the “technical proficiency” of the CIIS in helping the agency fulfill its mandate of border protection.
Tacio shone the spotlight on his people and the sacrifices they have to make for the successful operations the agency conducted last year.
“I received the award on behalf of many of our intelligence officers on the ground who continue to do the groundbreaking work of making sense of the information they receive and ensuring the success of these operations. We have captured billions worth of contraband items, but this award is also a reminder of the big work that still lies in ahead of us,” he said.
Tacio also lauded the CIIS officers and agents for their outstanding work in the past year.
“This is proof that working together leads to great things. I am not only proud of what our people have done last year, but I am looking forward to what more we can do for our kababayans who rely on us to protect their livelihoods, ensure the fair prices of goods, and free our streets of contraband items,” he said.
The bureau’s founding anniversary was attended by Finance Sec. Benjamin Diokno, who represented President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as the event’s guest of honor and speaker.
At the Manila International Container Port alone, the CIIS seized an estimated value of P21,655,776,268.18 worth of alerted shipments, implemented letters of authority (LOA), and joint buy-bust operations in 2022.
This is much higher compared to the P18,190,539,469 in 2021, P1,240,773,000 in 2020, and P4,509,963,186 in 2019.
Of the P21.655 billion, P4,022,564,508.18 comes from 121 alerted shipments, P9,194,411,760 from 50 LOAs, and P8,438,800,000 from 11 joint buy-bust operations.
Among the anti-drug operations conducted with the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the biggest was in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan with an estimated value of P2.4B for 360 kilos of shabu.
In March, the CIIS team also seized P1.088B estimated worth of 160 kilos of shabu in Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. – Harley F. Palangchao
