Filipina helper held in jail for alleged ‘ice’ trafficking

 By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker is being held in Tai Lam Correctional for Women after being arrested in May for alleged drug trafficking.

Analyn de Leon, who has been working in Hong Kong since July 2016, appeared in West Kowloon Court on Sept 3 on a charge of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

It was not clear if she was arrested on her return to Hong Kong from the Philippines.

With De Leon’s arrest, there are now at least 32 Filipinos, a number of them men but mostly women,  being held in various Hong Kong jails for drug-related charges. Six males of the 32 are male long-time inmates serving their sentences.

The lone male who is awaiting trial was arrested in June last year after apparently delivering 2 kilograms of cocaine to two Latin American men in Yaumatei, according to the Consulate.

De Leon, along with three other Filipina drug trafficking suspects, are being held in Tai Lam pending the resolution of their cases.

Prosecution stated in court that it would oppose any bail application for De Leon, even while the defense said it had no instructions from the defendant to apply for bail.

Magistrate Ada Yim adjourned the hearing until Oct 2 for further investigation.

Records at the Consulate show that De Leon was arrested by customs officers at the Hong Kong International Airport on May 4 this year.

The Consulate’s assistance to nationals section managed to verify with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office that De Leon was an OFW from Calamba City, Laguna.