THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) is seeking the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to expand its anti-smuggling task force, the Department of Finance said on Tuesday.

In his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd during an executive committee (Execom) meeting, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said that the PCG could beef up the bureau's anti-smuggling efforts in the country’s ports and initially operate the patrol vessels that would be turned over to the BoC.