PDEA raids shabu lab in Parañaque

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA), assisted by the local police, raided a shabu laboratory in Multinational Village, Parañaque City yesterday, seizing large amounts of chemicals used to manufacture the illegal drug.

PDEA Director Anselmo Avenido Jr. said they found tons of various chemicals, including ephedrine and thionyl chloride.

A Chinese national identified as Li Zhong Hong alias James Nian, a native of Fujian, China was arrested during the operation at around 12:30 a.m. by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Fortunito Madrona of Parañaque Regional Trial Court.

President Arroyo and Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes later inspected the shabu laboratory in a house on Nazareth street in Multinational Village.

Avenido said no finished product was found but at least 13 kilograms of ephedrine, 46 crates of thionyl chloride,and 500 crates of various chemicals, all main ingredients in producing shabu, were seized during the operations.

"Based on our initial assessment, this clandestine laboratory had just been set up, possibly just a few weeks ago," Avenido said. The house was reportedly owned by a certain Joseph Chan.

PDEA agents are investigating the background of Chan and Nian, said to be the caretaker of the house. Avenido said the raid was conducted after concerned homeowners told PDEA about the foul odor emanating from the house.

The information was relayed through the agency’s Operation Private Eye.

This prompted a thorough investigation by anti-narcotics agents. After two weeks of intensive surveillance, the agents confirmed that the house was indeed converted into a shabu laboratory.

During an inspection of the shabu laboratory, the President lauded the participation of the community in the latest achievement in the war on illegal drugs.

"Community involvement is an indispensable component in the success of the anti-drug campaign. If all the citizens will be vigilant enough in their own communities then drug syndicates will not be able to establish clandestine laboratories in any part of our country," she said.

Two weeks ago, a shabu laboratory, said to be the biggest in Southeast Asia, was dismantled by PDEA during an operation in Mandaue City, Cebu. At least eight foreigners and three Filipinos were nabbed in the raid.– With Marichu Villanueva