Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) warned transport network vehicle services (TNVS) – Grab and Uber – that drug dealers are using their drivers to deliver drugs to their buyers.
“Such modus has been a practice for such a long time,” PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino told reporters in a news conference at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City.
While these dealers use social media to sell drugs online, they use Grab and Uber to deliver illegal drugs to the buyers.
With this, PDEA urged TNVS drivers not to allow themselves of possible drug carrying without their knowledge.
“We are urging TNVS drivers and operators to exercise due diligence to ensure that they will not be used to transport any contraband,” Aquino said.
The advisory was issued following the arrest of Jovet Atillano, an online drug seller, in a buy-bust operation led by PDEA-Special Enforcement Service (PDEA-SES) in Mandaluyong City on September 19, 2017.
Atillano used TNVS services to transport drugs concealed in a package to his buyers without the knowledge of the drivers.
“Investigation revealed that Atillano has hired the services of TNVS drivers in delivering illegal drugs concealed inside packages right at the doorsteps of his customers. Before they know it, the drivers have become unwitting couriers of illegal drugs. We are urging TNVS drivers and operators to exercise due diligence to ensure that they will not be used to transport any contrabands,” Aquino said.
He added that drug syndicates have learned to “utilize the mobile-based application of transport network companies to deliver their illicit goods” by using fictitious names and preactivated SIM cards to get rid of detection in case the delivery went wrong and intercepted by authorities.
PDEA will coordinate with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to stop this new method of drug trafficking. | Angelica Bobiles – PTV
