PDEA moves to shield OFWs from drug rings

Manila Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is working on a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to help prevent overseas Filipino workers from being used as “drug mules."

PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said the agreement would include a lecture on dangerous drugs awareness in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars being conducted by the POEA for Filipino workers bound for work abroad.

Santiago said the campaign is imperative in view of the rising number of Filipinos being arrested for serving drug couriers or “mules."

The PDEA said international drug groups operating in Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa employ West Africans who recruit unsuspecting travelers – who are in dire need of money – as drug couriers.

A recent report by the Philippine Ambassador to China, Sonia Brady, said that on March 11 alone, 16 Filipino drug couriers were apprehended in various parts of China.

Santiago said he was “deeply concerned" with the rising trend of Filipino travelers being used to smuggled drugs because it is damaging the country’s reputation.

He warned that such trend could place every Filipino traveler under suspicion of being a potential drug courier.

“In fact, strict restrictions are now being imposed against Filipino travelers due to the involvement of Filipinos in illegal drug smuggling," he said.

Santiago said that Filipinos should not risk their life and future smuggling illegal substances, no matter what amount is being offered to them.

“[They wouldn’t want to suffer] the same fate as the Filipinos who either died or are languishing in jail in China and other foreign countries for drug trafficking," he said.

He also requested Filipino travelers not to accommodate any requests to carry baggage from strangers because these many contain dangerous drugs.

“It is sad to note that Filipino travelers caught transporting illegal rugs can be meted the death penalty, even if they did not know they were carrying such dangerous substances," said Santiago. - GMANews.TV

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