BOC: P2B worth of illegal drugs seized in first 3 months of 2026

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

ILLEGAL DRUGS INSPECTION. Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno (in blue shirt) leads the inspection and turnover of various seized illegal drugs at the Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Tuesday (March 31, 2026). The drugs, valued at more than PHP38 million, were earlier seized from warehouse facilities in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – Nearly PHP2 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized nationwide in the first quarter of 2026, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Tuesday.

About PHP1.865 billion worth of illegal drugs, turned over to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, were seized from Jan. 1 to March 29 amid intensified border protection and sustained inter‑agency cooperation.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno inspected and turned over the various seized illegal drugs in warehouse facilities in Pasay City at the BOC–Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with a total estimated value of over PHP38 million.

Meanwhile, District Collector Yasmin Obillos-Mapa said they recorded an estimated PHP955.888 million worth of anti-drug operations from January to March 2026.

In March 2026, several inbound parcels were flagged due to suspicious X-ray images, leading to the interception of illegal drugs concealed in various shipments. A total of 5,691 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” with an estimated value of PHP38,698,800, was recovered.