The District Port of Iloilo created a composite team named as Customs Border Protection (CBP)-District VI, in line with the orders of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to strengthen border protection and control of each collection district in suppressing and preventing any form of smuggling and customs fraud.
The CBP-District VI is comprised of 18 personnel from various divisions of the Port, namely Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Port Operations Division, and Assessment Division.
It covers the Collection District VI, Port of Iloilo, and Sub-Port of Pulupandan, including the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental, highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod, and coastal areas, seaports, airports, wharves, bays, and other areas that may be classified as Customs jurisdiction, a press release from the BOC said.
The CBP-District VI shall exercise police authority as provided under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and as implemented by Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 03-2019 and other applicable Customs rules and regulations.
An orientation briefing was presided over by district collector Ciriaco Ugay recently to discuss relevant actions before the conduct of operations. The operation plan of the Port, in coordination with PDEA VI, to conduct simulation exercises in seaport and airport drug interdiction on Feb. 24 was also tackled.*