Manila, April 11 -- The Bureau of Customs - Enforcement and Security Service (BOC-ESS) has seized more than PHP2.5 billion worth of illegal drugs in the first quarter of the year.

In a news release Saturday, the BOC said its enforcement unit recorded PHP2.52 billion in dangerous drug seizures from 214 operations nationwide from Jan. 1 to March 31 this year.

This follows a strong 2025 performance with more than PHP5 billion in seizures and 794 intercepted shipments worth more than PHP699 million.

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno commended the ESS for its "dedicated, courageous, and high-risk service in support of the bureau's enforcement mandate."

He emphasized that the sacrifices of ESS personnel - marked by long hours, operational ...