PDEA raises alarm vs cocaine smuggling using humans

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raised the alarm yesterday on the resurgence of the age-old scheme of using humans to transport cocaine from drug capitals to target markets in Asia and other parts of the world.

PDEA administrator Dionisio Santiago told reporters during the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel forum that several drug lords are now using overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as human cocaine carriers or mules.

One OFW was arrested in Macau and has been sentenced to death for carrying illegal drugs.

“We must inform our OFWs that the maximum penalty for cocaine trafficking is death,” Santiago said.

A former prison director, Santiago said using humans to transport contraband is prevalent in prisons where female inmates stuff drugs inside their vagina.

“The cocaine capsules are placed in condoms stuffed inside the vagina, usually during menstrual period,” he said.

For male couriers, the PDEA chief said capsulized cocaine are swallowed and removed using purgative drugs and, in some cases, through surgical operations.

Santiago said the demand for cocaine in the country has skyrocketed as illegal drug use has already crept into the enclaves of the rich and famous.

Rodolfo Caisip, deputy PDEA administrator, said that anti-narcotics agents have to rely on human intelligence to intercept cocaine-carrying travelers.

“It’s hard to detect drugs inside a live body, we have to rely on human intelligence, some people just report a suspect’s illegal activities,” he said.

The abnormal behavior of the courier often tips off law enforcers about his or her illegal activities.

Santiago said anti-drug agents are now expanding their operations in high-end nightspots where the use of cocaine and other drugs is prevalent.

“We will be conducting random drug tests on employees of high-end clubs,” he said.