The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) signed a new agreement on February 26 to strengthen cooperation against illegal drugs entering and leaving the country.
The memorandum of agreement renewed an interagency partnership first set in 2023 and expanded coordination against the smuggling, importation, exportation, and transshipment of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors, and related materials.
Under the agreement, both agencies committed to closer operational coordination, including wider use of shared databases, faster exchange of intelligence, and stronger inspection and scanning measures at ports of entry.
The pact also provided for regular coordination meetings and operational briefings to address enforcement gaps and improve response time during interdiction operations.
A key feature of the agreement was the creation of a Drug Interdiction Task Group that will serve as the main coordinating body for joint port operations and intelligence-led actions.
Customs officials said the agreement formalized the bureau’s role in border control in support of PDEA-led anti-illegal drug enforcement efforts.
The BOC reported that intensified coordination with PDEA and other agencies had resulted in drug seizures valued at about Php2.3 billion by the end of 2025, with additional confiscations worth around Php689 million recorded from January to February 20, 2026.
Officials said the renewed partnership aimed to reinforce border security through coordinated enforcement and sustained interagency cooperation.