Recent incidents revealed that infants and toddlers are being used in attempts to smuggle and sell dangerous drugs, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA director general believed that there is such an unsettling trend, following the recent arrest of a female visitor trying to sneak in a sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, inside the Makati City Jail, by hiding the illegal drug in the sandals of her one-year-old daughter that she was carrying.

Cacdac said that drug traffickers and pushers never cease to figure out ways to get away with their illicit drug activities. “They never run out of creativity in deflecting suspicion from authorities, even using children to direct attention,” he added.

The Drug Enforcement agency has received similar reports that some drug pushers conduct their illegal trade with children in tow. Dangerous drugs are usually concealed inside the clothing of children during buy-bust operations.

“This is very disturbing. How can someone exploit his or her own child to serve one’s evil purpose. This is one form of child abuse where parents put their children’s lives on imminent risk of serious harm,” the PDEA chief said.