Pinoy truck drivers in KSA not to transport banned drugs

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah reminded Filipino truck drivers in Saudi Arabia not to transport illegal drugs to avoid running afoul with the law.

Consul General Ezzedin Tago, head of post in Jeddah, issued the advisory after a number of Filipinos were arrested and thrown in jail as Saudi police discovered the banned qat inside their trucks.

Qat is a leaf of the shrub Catha edulis chewed like tobacco or used for making tea, and has an effect of a euphoric stimulant. A report published by the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK links coronary problems, liver damage and esophageal cancer to the drug. It can also cause heart attack.

Qat is smuggled into Saudi Arabia largely via its southern border with Yemen.

Consul General Tago said transporting “hot" items has become one of the part time jobs of some of the low-paid drivers.

"I understand the situation of the small income earner Filipinos but they have to understand also that what they are doing is really very dangerous," Tago said.

He did not mention how many were arrested in the latest incident, but said there has been a growing number of Filipinos arrested recently for transporting illegal drugs.

"Some of them were already sentenced to five years in prison" he said. “We will give them all the assistance but I am hoping that our kababayans listen this time."

"This is one of the problems with some of our kababayans here. Some of them know it is illegal but in order to have additional earnings they are taking their chances even they know the consequences if caught. I hope they listen and obey the law in this country," Tago said. - GMANews.TV

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