Philippine authorities have stepped up checks on their citizens flying to Papua New Guinea following the discovery of an alleged smuggling racket involving Filipino women.
The Post Courier newspaper says immigration staff have been orderd to monitor airline passengers bound for PNG following reports of undocumented overseas workers moving into PNG.
A Manila-based newspaper has reported that the Phillipine Immigration Commissioner has directed all Filipino tourists departing for PNG to be subject to secondary inspection.
He reportedly directed his staff to refer to the labour-assistance counter at the airport for clearance any suspected tourist worker bound for PNG.
