RP post in China warns Pinoys anew vs drug smuggling

The Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou has reiterated its warning to Filipinos against drug smuggling, in light of a Chinese-French citizen recently sentenced to death there for drug-related offenses. The warning was issued after the Intermediate People’s Court of Guangzhou sentenced to death a Chinese-French citizen for manufacturing, transporting and dealing large amounts of crystal methamphetamine, according to a release posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). According to the release, the Chinese-French citizen is from an eight-member drug ring operating in Guangdong and Henan province. Another member, a Chinese national, was likewise sentenced to death while two were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. Three other members were sentenced to life imprisonment while another member was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. The DFA said five foreign nationals – four Japanese and a British – have already been executed for smuggling illegal drugs into China. “Filipinos who receive invitations to work in high-paying jobs in China are warned that this is the usual modus operandi of drug syndicates in recruiting ‘drug mules’ or drug couriers," the Consulate thus warned. The Consulate said the payment offered to drug mules range from US$500 to US$2,000 (about P22,600 to P90,400), depending on the amount of drugs involved. The most common job offer is to bring into or out of China some goods where the drugs are hidden, which will be delivered to the unsuspecting courier before the scheduled flight, the Consulate explained. DFA records show 205 drug-related cases in China, where five suspects have been meted the death penalty without reprieve and 70 with death penalty with two-year reprieve. Under China’s criminal law, a capital punishment with a two-year reprieve means the convict is given two years to undergo “reform through labor," after which the sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment if the convict is deemed to have shown genuine repentance for his or her crimes. Meanwhile, 35 cases involve life imprisonment sentences, 68 sentences of fixed-term imprisonment and 27 pending cases. DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban B. Conejos noted there is a continuing trend of Filipinos being arrested for carrying drugs, and warned of the stiff penalties that the crime carries. "We warn our countrymen not to accept packages which they suspect are drugs. If they are caught carrying illegal drugs, they will face very dire consequences. We also appeal to our public to be wary of the modus operandi used by drug-trafficking syndicates," Conejos said. "The country is doing everything to arrest the drug menace, and with the cooperation of all, we hope that we can eradicate it once and for all. But ultimately, our people must take full responsibility for their actions by always being on guard against the inducements," he added. Overseas-bound Filipino workers have fallen prey to drug syndicates recruiting couriers, also known as mules, to transport illegal drugs inside their luggage or shoes or fabric buttons. (See: 'Kindness' makes Pinays vulnerable to drug rings) Syndicates, however, have recently come up with more dangerous ways of smuggling prohibited substances, like stuffing or even surgically sewing drugs inside the bodies of Filipino couriers. (See: Syndicates sneak, tuck, sew drugs into Pinoys) Recently, Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson (1st district) was arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport for allegedly possessing 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of Valium. (See: CCTV shows Rep. Singson 'eluding' airport X-ray machine) Under Hong Kong laws, possession of dangerous drugs is punishable with a maximum imprisonment of seven years and a maximum fine of HK$1,000,000. Hong Kong, a Chinese special administrative region, abolished capital punishment in 1993.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV