4 Pinoys in Macau’s biggest drug smuggling case

MANILA, Philippines – Four Filipinos were caught in Macau Saturday, May 4, with over 50 kilograms of high-purity cocaine worth around P1 billion, the biggest drug trafficking incident to date in the Chinese territory.

The Filipinos – two men and two women – were arrested following a drug crackdown made by the Macau’s Judiciary Police (Policia Judiciaria, or PJ).

Macau Daily Times reported the 4 Filipinos have entered Macau and some parts of Southeast Asia a number of times allegedly in an attempt to test the various ports’ drug enforcement capabilities and plan their drug shipment.

The suspects departed from São Paulo, Brazil where they obtained the drugs and flew to Beijing, China on transit to Macau.

Macau police said that the suspects made the detour in an attempt to come in under the radar, for they possibly believed the lower rate of drug-smuggling through arrivals from Beijing than those from South American or Southeast Asian departure points would act as a cover.

The seized cocaine was almost 100% pure and weighed 50.848 kilograms in total.

PJ deputy director Chau Wai Kuong said on Saturday evening that the they acted on a tip that someone would transport a batch of drugs passing through Macau.

After locating three of the suspects at the airport around 11 am Saturday, the police followed them separately to two hotels in the central area of the Macau Peninsula, namely the Central Hotel Macau and the Sintra Hotel.

Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Raul Hernandez said on Thursday, May 9, that representatives from the Philippine Consulate General in Macau already conducted a prison visit to ascertain the status of the four Filipinos apprehended.

“We informed the 4 Filipinos that we are ready to assist them and ensure that their rights and welfare are protected,” Hernandez said. – Rappler.com