Travelers warned: Don’t carry bags for just anyone
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:20:00 05/18/2008
THE PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT Agency (PDEA) on Saturday advised Filipino travelers not to agree to carry luggage for other people, including countrymen, lest these contain illegal drugs.
PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said Hong Kong authorities recently arrested two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for transporting five kilos of heroin.
“Filipino travelers are being exploited due to their accommodating nature in the spirit of pakikisama (camaraderie), a popular and often abused cultural trait,” Santiago said.
He said drug dealers usually offered travelers up to $400 to carry a suitcase to their destination for them.
“It is unwise to risk one’s life and future over any amount in dangerous drugs or cash,” Santiago said.
He advised travelers to personally inspect the contents of any bags they are asked to carry if they cannot turn down the person making the request.
Santiago said a traveler caught in possession of dangerous drugs, even if he did not know the bag contained illegal drugs, would have to answer to the arresting country’s laws.
“This public advisory was issued to safeguard all travelers so they would not suffer the fate of the two OFWs and others who had been caught in the past,” Santiago said.
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