THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has strengthened its frontline defense against smuggling and transnational crimes with the graduation of 29 newly trained officers from the elite Customs Police Rapid Intervention Group (CPRIG), in line with the intensified border protection campaign of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said Wednesday the newest force will be tasked with protecting Philippine ports, securing borders and defending communities from illegal trade operations.
The officers completed the highly demanding Customs Police Rapid Intervention Group Special Operations Training, a specialized program to produce a tactical enforcement unit capable of handling high-risk operations and rapidly responding to emerging security threats.
The training is part of the Bureau’s broad modernization and enforcement strategy to tighten border controls and prevent smugglers and organized crime groups from exploiting the country’s ports and entry points.
Nepomuceno hailed the graduates for their courage, discipline and commitment to public service, reminding them that they now carry the responsibility of upholding the integrity and professionalism of the Customs Police.
“You are the standard-bearer,” Nepomuceno told the graduates. “The responsibility to preserve integrity, discipline and professionalism now rests on your shoulders. In every mission and operation, you carry not only the name of the Bureau of Customs but also the trust of the Filipino people.”
He emphasized that the values and operational discipline developed during the training must be sustained in the field, stressing that CPRIG remains a critical force in the government’s campaign against smuggling, illegal trafficking and organized criminal activities.
Joining the ceremony was Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who underscored the growing importance of interagency cooperation in addressing evolving national security threats across the country’s borders and ports.
Both officials highlighted CPRIG’s vital role as one of the nation’s frontline defense units against transnational crimes, including smuggling syndicates, illegal trafficking networks and other organized groups attempting to penetrate Philippine borders.
Brawner, who served as the guest of honor, commended the graduates for completing the grueling four-month training program supervised by instructors from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Special Forces and the Presidential Security Group.
“Today marks the transformation of men and women who answered the call to serve with greater discipline and purpose,” Brawner said. “Every threat intercepted, every successful operation and every crime prevented contributes directly to the stability and security of our nation.”
The CPRIG graduates underwent intensive instruction in Customs Police Fundamentals, Special Skills and Advanced Tactical Operations, including airport and seaport security operations, tactical intelligence, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, pistol and rifle marksmanship, improvised explosive device identification, tactical communications, Close Quarter Battle, Vessel Boarding, Search and Seizure, and executive protection operations.
The ceremony also showcased the strengthening partnership among the BOC, the AFP, the Philippine Navy and other government agencies, particularly in intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement operations.
The BOC reaffirmed its commitment to continuously advance the operational readiness, professionalism and tactical capability of the CPRIG to protect the country’s borders, economy and national security.
