DRUG TRADE NO LONGER A MAN’S DOMAIN AS MORE WOMEN ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN DRUG ACTIVITIES

More and more women are getting involved in illegal drug activities. This was after the consecutive arrest of female drug personalities during anti-drug operations conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

PDEA Director General Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr. revealed that from January 2011 to date, a total of 674 female drug personalities were apprehended by operatives either through buy-bust or search warrant operations. This figure comprises 13.3% of the 5,062 total drug personalities arrested

The most recent was the arrest of three female drug dealers: a mother-daughter tandem together with their supplier in Iligan City on 27 September 2011. Gutierrez identified the suspects as Lucita and Jennifer Alperito, and Anisah Macadato.

Lucita, alias Cita, a 56-year old widow, and her daughter Jenifer, 36, alias Epe, were apprehended during a buy-bust operation conducted by operatives of PDEA Region Office 10 (PDEA-RO10) in Purok 3, Saray, Iligan City after selling one plastic sachet of shabu to a poseur-buyer. Further search on the suspects yielded additional seven plastic sachets in various sizes containing shabu.

In a follow-up operation conducted in Bacayo Mercy Celdran, Iligan City, Macadato, 27, identified as the supplier of the Alperitos, was caught red-handed after delivering two big sachets of shabu to PDEA agents who served as buyer.

Macadato is presently detained in PDEA-RO10 while the Alperito duo is under the custody of the Iligan City Police Station. Appropriate cases have been filed against the suspects.

The PDEA chief, likewise cited the arrest of a female Kenyan national last September 29, 2011 at the Mactan International Airport in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu for transporting three kilograms of shabu from Doha, Qatar. The female Kenyan national, identified as Ashia Atieno Ogotu, 25 years old, is suspected to be a member of the African Drug Syndicate.

”The series of arrest of female drug personalities, both local and foreign nationals, indicates that the illegal drug trade is no longer a man’s world. Women are fast becoming key players in the illegal drug business. Because women are less prone to suspicion by law enforcers, drug syndicates have exploited this inherent characteristic,” Gutierrez said. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency