Drug Syndicates Using Social Media To Victimize Saudi-Based Pinoys
Oct 28, 2013
Drug syndicates have started using social media to drag Saudi Arabia-based Filipinos into their illegal activities without the Filipinos actually being aware of it, the Philippine Embassy there warned.
The embassy gave the warning following the alleged increase in the number of arrests of Filipinos who received parcels containing illegal drugs.
"A common practice among (those behind the parcels) is to use social media, such as Facebook, to befriend the victim and later on request the latter to receive a package to be given to another person who is in the Kingdom," the embassy said in a news release posted on its website early Monday.
The embassy did not mention the exact number of Filipinos recently arrested for such offense, but said the Filipinos were arrested after they presented their iqamas to get the suspicious packages.
The embassy reminded Saudi-based Filipinos that "possession and use of illegal drugs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a serious criminal offense under Saudi law.
“The importation or smuggling into the Kingdom of illegal drugs or its precursors is a crime punishable by death," it added.
Because of this, the embassy advised Filipinos in Saudi Arabia "NOT to provide their personal information to other persons, specifically the Saudi residence permit (iqama) and mobile numbers."
"Filipinos are especially warned against accommodating requests from any individual who claim that his or her iqama is still being processed and needs the iqama number of the unsuspecting Filipino to receive a package coming from the Philippines," it said.
For now, the Embassy said it is coordinating with Philippine police and Customs authorities to prevent the illegal activity.
