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The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected an additional P100.6 million in duties and taxes in 2020 as a result of scanning containers and issuing 208 warrants of seizure and detention
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BOC’s 124 x-ray machines in 2020 scanned 513,600 containers, 41% higher than the 363,629 containers scanned in 2019
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The BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) seized illegal shipments worth P2.6 billion last year
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For the first week of January 2021, XIP has already scanned 16,168 containers, issued three WSDs, and generated P1.973 million in additional duties and taxes
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected an additional P100.604 million in duties and taxes in 2020 as a result of scanning containers and issuing 208 warrants of seizure and detention (WSD).
BOC in a statement said its 124 x-ray machines last year scanned 513,600 containers, 41% higher than the 363,629 containers scanned in 2019.
Scanning also resulted in the apprehension of 14 importations of illegal drugs with a collective estimated street value of P1.639 billion; 24 importations of cigarettes having an estimated street cost of P833.333 million; and two importations of automobiles worth an estimated P45 million.
BOC said its X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) in 2020 seized illegal shipments worth an estimated P2.553 billion.
For the first week of January 2021, XIP has already scanned 16,168 containers, issued three WSDs, and generated P1.973 million of additional duties and taxes.
The customs bureau said its modernized scanning equipment enabled it to intensify non-intrusive but rapid and effective screening of containerized shipments “with minimum interruption to the movement of goods inside the ports while ensuring maximum threat detection.”
It noted that the advanced scanning technologies put in place, particularly the new x-ray machines being deployed in recent years, “have been substantial in ensuring the ports’ resiliency and adaptability in light of the restrictions implemented under the unanticipated health crisis in 2020.”
BOC has been adding new x-ray machines in order to increase its capability in non-intrusive inspection of containerized shipments.
In 2019, it said it was adding 50 new x-ray machines in various airports and seaports nationwide, including 15 fixed baggage x-ray machines, 25 hand-carried baggage x-ray machines, four mobile baggage x-ray machines, and six portal-type x-ray machines, altogether worth more than P1.2 billion.
