Shabu-making chemicals seized in Valenzuela

At least 145 drums of assorted chemicals used in making shabu were accidentally discovered by the Northern Police District (NPD) operatives and the local police in a warehouse yesterday in Valenzuela City.

Aside from tons of regulated chemicals, five sacks of the crystaline substance as well as equipment used in producing illegal drugs were also found inside a suspected clandestine shabu laboratory at 44 18th st., Villa Liway-way in Barangay Maysan.

According to Chief Inspector Rafael Santiago Jr., chief of the NPD-District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Group (DAID-SOG), the Valenzuela City fire department received a fire alarm report at around 2:15 p.m. from residents of Barangay Maysan.

The residents reported that thick smoke was seen emanating from a warehouse on Villa Liwayway. Initial investigation conducted by city arson investigators, however, showed that the smoke was being caused by chemicals stockpiled inside the warehouse.

"There was a chemical reaction from the warehouse that produced foul odor and thick smoke which caught the attention of residents in the area," Santiago said.

The fire department, with city police chief Senior Superintendent Jose Marcelo, coordinated the raid with the NPD, led by Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., which led to the discovery of tons of raw substances used in making shabu.

"It wasn’t really a laboratory but an old abandoned warehouse," Marcelo said.

The drums contained chemicals identified as thionyl chloride, chloroform, alcohol ethoxylate, propylene glycol, chloronated paraffin, trichloroethylene, daltofoam acetone, methylene chloride and dichloromethene.

At least two more drums containing unidentified chemicals were also discovered inside the warehouse reportedly owned by a certain Roger Ang and being leased from him by one Jimmy Ho.

No one was arrested during the raid.