Spain drug bust: 20 Pinoys nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty Filipinos, mostly women, were among those arrested on Tuesday in one of the largest drug apprehensions in Spain, the Spanish embassy in Manila said yesterday.

Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq said the arrests were made by authorities in three cities in Spain that dismantled one of the main crime networks.

He said most of the Filipino nationals arrested were women.

Police arrested 20 Filipinos, 19 Spaniards and three Africans – one each from Mali, Senegal and Togo.

The 42 arrested suspects, including the Filipinos, are currently detained.

“The distribution of ‘shabu’ was done mainly through people of Filipino origin, mostly ladies,” Domecq told The STAR.

“The operation is one of the largest drug apprehensions in Spain,” Domecq said. “Shabu is the scope of this operation that took place yesterday.”

Authorities seized 8 kilos of shabu in Madrid.

The ambassador said the first arrest made by the authorities involved small drug dealers, followed by the “big fish” or those bringing drugs into Spain through mules who arrived at the Barcelona airport.

The detainees, he said, were using a ghost company of car sales to justify their trade.

“They have a very powerful distribution network,” Domecq said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the Philippine embassy in Madrid is still verifying reports about the arrest of 20 Filipinos for alleged drug trafficking.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the embassy is trying to determine the identities of the arrested Filipinos and their status so the DFA would know how to deal with their problems.

“Our embassy in Madrid is coordinating with the Spanish authorities to verify reports that 20 Filipinos were among those arrested for involvement with drug trafficking rings in Spain,” Jose said.

“The embassy’s main priority is to establish the identities of the Filipinos and their immigration or labor status, and to find out their current location and condition. Based on these information, we can determine the appropriate assistance we will extend to them,” he added.

The DFA renewed its appeal to Filipinos to avoid getting involved in illegal activities.

“We renew our call on our countrymen to avoid involvement with drug syndicates. Drug trafficking is universally recognized as a serious criminal act, which has adverse effects not only on individual lives but also on society at large,” Jose said.