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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
www.dfa.gov.ph 2330Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines Tel. No. 834-4000 |
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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN BEIJNG WARNS OF TOUGH PENALTIES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN CHINA 23 November 2007 – The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has reiterated its warning to Filipinos not to allow themselves to be used as “drug couriers” by unscrupulous “friends” working for syndicates involved in drug trafficking in China. Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Sonia Brady stressed that “China strictly imposes tough penalties against persons caught in possession of prohibited or dangerous drugs. They face maximum sentences ranging from life imprisonment to death”. In several reports to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Brady stated that 11 Filipinos have been arrested in China this year for bringing parcels or bags allegedly containing prohibited drugs. All were apprehended upon arrival in China, and are under investigation by Chinese authorities. Moreover, three Filipinas were arrested last month by Chinese police at the international airports in Guangzhou and Tibet upon their arrival from Macau and Katmandu, Nepal, respectively, with packages or suitcases allegedly containing prohibited drugs. Ambassador Brady recounts: “These Filipinas claimed they were requested to carry the parcels by “friends” they met in another country, who provided them tickets to travel to China, with the promise that they would be paid upon delivery of the parcel to a contact in China. They were arrested upon arrival at the airport, so they were not paid their counter fee, nor given any assistance by their “friends”. Because they are in detention, they cannot support their families in the Philippines. Therefore, they became a problem of the Philippine government.” The Filipinas who were caught with illegal drugs upon entering China claimed they would be paid by drug syndicates $US 500 for their effort. Ambassador Brady urges Filipinos to resist any offer of money for carrying parcels to China. “No matter what the amount they offer, this is nothing compared to the damage drugs bring to society, to our youth, and to their families, on top of the severe penalties that Chinese laws impose, “ she emphasized. Ms Brady also called attention to the drug syndicates’ wide network operations in various parts of Asia. She warned Filipinos entering China from any third country to be cautious of packages or suitcases that are sent through them by illegal syndicates in exchange for remuneration, as it may contain dangerous and prohibited drugs. END.
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