Bureau of Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz has lauded the Customs Intelligence, and Investigation Service for intercepting more than P21 billion worth of smuggled goods at the Manila International Container Port in 2022.
Ruiz presented CIIS Director Jeoffrey Tacio with a plaque recognizing the agency’s help in fulfilling the BoC’s mandate of border protection during the bureau’s 121st Founding Anniversary.
“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,” Tacio said.
The P21 billion contrabands intercepted by the CIIS comprised P4 billion coming from 121 alerted shipments, P9 billion from 50 letters of authority, and P8 billion from 11 joint buy-bust operations.
CIIS’ anti-drug operations conducted with the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines resulted in the seizure of 360 kilos of shabu worth P2.4 billion in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan.
In March, the CIIS also seized 160 kilos of shabu worth P1 billion in Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela City.
With this, Commissioner Yogi has extolled the CIIS during the BoC’s 121st Founding Anniversary for the CIIS’ “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 the celebration at Manila’s South Harbor on Tuesday, 7 February 2023.
CIIS Director Jeoffrey Tacio 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’ve captured billions worth of contraband items, but this award is also a reminder of the big work that still lies in front of us,” he said.
Tacio also took time to laud 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.