12 February 2008 – The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that it has issued a warning to the Filipino community in Laos, especially those residing in Vientiane, to beware of syndicates preying on Filipinos with the intention to utilize them as couriers of illegal substances across Laotian borders to neighboring countries.

The modus operandi of the syndicate, whose front men are mostly from West Africa, is to befriend and court Filipino women, oftentimes in Vientiane’s various internet cafes and restaurants, sometimes with a promise of marriage and a comfortable life. The “friend” would then introduce the other members of the syndicate, who would actually execute the transportation of the illegal drugs utilizing the Filipina as a courier, with a promise of US $500 payment when the “goods” are brought across the border where the would-be fiancé is purportedly waiting for a rendezvous.

Many such cases have been reported by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing in which Filipinos had agreed to transport drugs from Nepal, Macau and other countries. Recently,  two cases involved Filipinos originating from Vientiane. In one case, the Filipina (name witheld for security reasons), admitted that she swallowed the plastic containers of illegal drugs upon the instructions of her African “friend”. She was arrested at the border and was found guilty for drug trafficking.

In the other case, the Filipina was fortunate to have convinced the border police that she did not know about the luggage containing illegal drugs suspected to be opium. The police confiscated the drugs but she was released and allowed to go back to Vientiane. Upon her return, the syndicate pursued her and demanded that she pay for the cost of the drugs. They took her passport and threatened to harm her if she did not pay up. The Embassy provided assistance and the Filipina was repatriated to the Philippines for her safety.

Filipinos in Laos and elsewhere are warned not to allow themselves to be used as couriers of any kind of luggage if they are not personally aware of the contents. They should decline offers of “easy money” as the penalty for drug trafficking in many countries could be as severe as life imprisonment or death. END.