The Middle East chapter of a migrants group Wednesday warned vacationing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against accepting packages that strangers request them to carry.. Migrante International-Middle East issued the warning as many Filipinos are preparing to go on vacation when Philippine schools in the Middle East go on a summer break starting mid-March. Migrante reminded vacationing OFWs to be wary of people, including compatriots, who may befriend them at the airport and ask them to help bring their extra packages as these may contain illegal drugs. “OFWs have become unsuspecting drug couriers of syndicates, mostly from West African countries, that ask them to bring packages to their host countries, unaware that these may contain contraband or other illegal items,” Migrante said in a statement. “We are asking OFWs, especially those returning abroad, to refrain from accepting ‘padala' especially if they have not checked and verified what the luggage, bags and other items contain,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante regional coordinator. Monterona said the group has received two reports of OFWs carrying items which were later found to contain illegal drugs. The OFWs are now in jail facing prosecution after they were arreste by immigration authorities in their host countries. He didn't say where the cases happened. Monterona also warned traveling Filipinos not to join drug rings that offer to pay big amounts to mules who are willing to carry contrabands. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said there have been several Filipinos who have been victimized by drug syndicates after agreeing to carry packages for $500 to $2,500. The common drug destinations are China and its territories like Hong Kong and Macau where trafficking of at least 50 grams of prohibited drugs like heroin is punishable by death, the NBI said.
