EDITORIAL - Courier now, pusher later

In a previous editorial we mentioned that drug dealers or drug lords would come up with novel ideas to distribute their product in the age of the novel coronavirus. It seems they have sunk to a new low, literally, in recruiting minors to move their drugs for them.

Just last Saturday, a minor and a man of legal age were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City. The minor was notorious enough to make the regional drug watch list.

He was also fifth minor to be arrested for involvement in drugs this year in Cebu City.

Of course, we can be sure there are other minors involved in illegal drugs in the city, those who have evaded arrest. And some may be doing so with or without discernment as although they are minors, some individuals develop a sense of right and wrong earlier than others.

The allure of using minors to move drugs is obvious; they often escape the attention of authorities, they have a lot of free time, and, if worse comes to worst, their youth gives them a better chance to outrun or outmaneuver authorities in certain locations.

They are also easy to manipulate and entice into carrying out activities that more experienced criminal may even find risky. No doubt pushers will exploit their poverty to recruit them.

Aside from eking out a living during this time of crisis, parents now have the additional responsibility of making sure their children are not being used by drug pushers. Of course, our assumption is that most parents would never encourage their own children to get into drugs, whether as users or couriers.

The community can also help out in this. Something that is kept secret from the parents may not be so invisible with others, if you get the drift.

This may be an additional duty on the part of the parents and neighborhoods, but there is no one else who can make sure our children don’t fall prey to the influence of drugs.

Action should be taken. Any minor who gets involved in drugs may be lured in by the easy money and decide to make this nefarious trade a lifelong career.