The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that there is an alarming trend of Filipinos being arrested worldwide for drug trafficking.

From January to July this year alone, 116 Filipino travelers were intercepted and arrested at various international airports for drug trafficking, the foreign agency said in a statement.

In China, including Hong Kong and Macao, 52 Filipinos were apprehended, 19 in the Middle East, eight in other Asian countries, seven in the United States, 20 in Latin America, and 10 in Europe.

With these arrests, the Department of Foreign Affairs cautioned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including seafarers, and Filipino nationals traveling overseas to take necessary precautions to avoid involvement in the smuggling or trafficking of narcotics and illicit drugs.

"International criminal syndicates operating in the Philippines, China (including Hong Kong and Macao), Malaysia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and other countries in Asia, Middle East, and South America have victimized unsuspecting Filipino travelers and have also succeeded in recruiting Filipino nationals to work as drug couriers or mules," according to the statement.

The foreign agency said these criminal syndicates employ Africans and various Asian nationals, including Filipinos, who try to convince unsuspecting travelers to carry luggage or parcels containing narcotics.

"Travelers, tourists, or OFWs are approached by members of criminal syndicates and are offered attractive amounts of cash if they will carry luggage or parcels for delivery to a certain person at their point of destination. These items of luggage or parcels invariably contain narcotics or illicit drugs," said the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In other instances, Filipino travelers are recruited as drug couriers and are paid to carry narcotics or illicit drugs by concealing these items in their clothing. Other couriers ingest or swallow small packets of narcotics or insert these inside their body cavities.

"Filipino travelers should be aware that improved customs examination and law enforcement capabilities in many countries, as well as expanding international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, is helping many countries intercept narcotics and illicit drugs at ports of entry," said the foreign agency.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also reminded Filipinos that most countries impose harsh penalties for drug smuggling or trafficking ranging from a lengthy prison sentence at the very least to a maximum of death.

Filipino nationals are urged to exercise caution in their travels overseas and to report any incident involving such offers to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate if they are overseas.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)