An office of the Bureau of Customs led by an accomplished Cordilleran public servant was cited for its anti-smuggling accomplishments during the 119th founding anniversary of BOC in Manila on Feb. 9.
BOC Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CISS) Director III Jeoffrey Pacio was on hand to receive the award for his office during the awards rites graced by Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez III.
BOC said Tacio’s office, along with the Enforcement and Security Service, X-Ray Inspection Project, Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, and the Environment Protection and Compliance Division, greatly contributed in the anti-smuggling efforts of the government in 2020.
Pacio attributed the yearly award and recognition for his office to the sacrifices of CIIS agents in going after smuggled items, including illegal drugs.
An accomplished former anti-narcotics operative-turned director, Tacio was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the BOC as Imports Assessment Service director in 2018.
Tacio is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2000.
In the previous years, Pacio was part of the team behind the successful investigation of 355 kilograms of illegal drugs concealed inside two magnetic lifters found at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).
He also led in the investigation of the illegal release of 169 containers at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Misamis Oriental resulting in the filing of charges against BOC personnel and private individuals.
Tacio was likewise acknowledged for leading the investigation on the seizure of 23,015 smuggled sacks of rice in Bengo Wharf, Baliwasan, Zamboanga City in September 2018 which also resulted in the filing of charges against BOC personnel.
Meanwhile, BOC also announced the destruction of forfeited motor vehicles during the program.
Among the des-troyed forfeited motor vehicles are a used Ford F-150 Super SVT Can Raptor pick up, a brand new 2015 Toyota Landcruiser, and a used 2007 Bentley Continental GT, which were seized by MICT authorities in August 2015, November 2017, and January 2019, respectively.
Five used luxury vehicles seized by the Port of Cebu in 2019 were also condemned.
The destruction of the vehicles which arrived from the U.S., Belgium, Japan, and Korea with an aggregate value of P45.243 million is a warning to all unscrupulous importers to stop the illegal importation of vehicles. – Harley F. Palangchao
April 26, 2024
