Nigerian gang behind 71 Pinoy 'mules' in China?

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is looking into a possible link between two Filipinos arrested recently in China for smuggling heroin and a Nigerian syndicate behind 69 other Filipino drug couriers earlier caught in that country.

Undersecretary Dionisio Santiago, PDEA director general, said they will coordinate with the China National Narcotics Control Commission (CNNCC) to pinpoint the group behind the two Filipinos arrested at the Beijing Fudong International Airport last Sept. 15 and 23.

“We do not have any conclusive information yet on whether or not the syndicate behind those two arrested drug mules is based here in the country,” he said.

“Investigation is ongoing in coordination with our counterparts.”

Santiago said while they continue to verify the source of the heroin seized from the suspects, who managed to pass through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) undetected, they would also move to strengthen anti-narcotics measures at the country’s airports.

He said the PDEA will conduct an extensive refresher course for airport personnel manning X-ray machines and security at the different airport terminals to identify the presence of illegal drugs in hand-carried bags.

The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) confirmed last Wednesday that two more Filipinos were arrested recently in China for trying to smuggle heroin through the airport in Shanghai.

DDB chair Vicente Sotto III said he would seek a review of security and inspection procedures implemented by Cebu Pacific and other airlines with international flights. Both drug suspects took Cebu Pacific flights from Manila.

Sotto said a 33-year-old Filipina was arrested at the Shanghai International Airport Tuesday night after inspectors discovered packs of heroin hidden in five pairs of shoes inside her luggage.

Last Sept. 15, a 25-year-old Filipino was arrested at the same Shanghai airport for reportedly trying to smuggle 1.2 kilograms of heroin.

The DDB earlier confirmed that at least 69 Filipinos were arrested in different airports in China since January this year for trying to smuggle heroin into the communist country, flying in from Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia. Most of them are women.

Twenty-four of them were caught bringing suitcases that contained dangerous drugs and were all recruited either directly or indirectly by Nigerian nationals; eight of them concealing dangerous drugs inside their bodies; and the remaining 37 trying to smuggle dangerous drugs into China in other ways, he said.

It was earlier reported that all arrested Filipinos pleaded guilty to drug trafficking. Seven of them have already been convicted and sentenced to death in lower courts. Two pregnant drug couriers were deported for humanitarian reasons.

Initial investigation showed that a syndicate approached these Filipinos, offered to pay them $1,000 to $2,500 to bring in the drugs.

The government earlier said it would not extend legal assistance to the arrested Filipino drug mules in China upon orders of President Arroyo, whom officials said is “very tough on the drug issue.”

Last Sept. 17, authorities confirmed that Malaysian and Philippine authorities jointly busted a Nigerian syndicate believed to be behind nine Filipinas, nine Nigerian suspects and a Sri Lankan arrested in Kuala Lumpur. Philippine ambassador to Malaysia Victoriano Lecaros had said the Filipinas were recruited to swallow the drugs and smuggle them to Argentina, Brazil, China and other Asian countries in exchange for $3,000 per trip.

Authorities said the drug suspects might suffer the death penalty if proven guilty in Malaysian court. Their only hope at this point, according to Sotto, is diplomatic intervention by Mrs. Arroyo.