EDITORIAL — High-sea risks

From abroad comes the concerning news that 20 Filipino seafarers have been arrested in Nigeria after authorities there found high-grade cocaine under some cargo in their vessel.

According to reports, the Panamanian-flagged MV NordBosporus just arrived in Nigeria from Brazil when they were flagged down and found with 20 kilos of cocaine last November 16.

Brazil is a notorious source for cocaine, while Nigeria is also notorious as a drug trafficking hub for both Africa and Europe.

Information in this case remains sparse. We want to conclude that the Filipino seafarers didn’t have anything to do with the drugs, and that they were just in the wrong vessel at the wrong time, or that most of them were, anyway. After all, why would they risk their jobs?

But then again, we also don’t have evidence to support the contrary either.

If nothing else, this again shows that high-paying jobs abroad, especially seafaring, come with attendant risks, including extreme weather, the risk of getting attacked or kidnapped by terrorists, as well as the possibility of being fall guys for drug syndicates looking to move their product clandestinely.

As per stories from seafarers themselves, syndicates have been known to sneak onto ships to plant their shipments without any involvement of the crew.

We aren’t discouraging Filipinos from becoming seafarers, no. For many, it might just look like a quick way to alleviate the family from poverty; but for others it’s actually a matter of personal calling or even family tradition. It’s just that those who get into this kind of work must know what to expect and take precautions against the known hazards of this particular occupation.

This goes without saying our government should keep a close eye on this development. Some of our seafarers have already endured being attacked, kidnapped, or held hostage. It would be a grave injustice if our seafarers were made to take the fall for someone else’s doing.

But then again the situation might be worse; perhaps some of them might be being persuaded to engage in drug trafficking under threat or for the promise of better rewards.