AIDSOTF nabs elusive shabu lab suspect

After more than two years in hiding, a Chinese national tagged as one of those behind the operation of a raided shabu laboratory in Quezon City, was arrested last Friday by anti-drugs agents in Caloocan City.

Suspect Lin Zhiong Jian, alias Ben Lin, 49, of San Leribon street in Valenzuela City was walking along 4th Avenue in Caloocan City when spotted by elements of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF).

Lin did not resist arrest when cornered by an AIDSOTF team headed by Chief Inspector Ismael Fajardo Jr., of the Special Operations Unit 3 (SOU3) at 2:30 p.m.

AIDSOTF commander Director Marcelo Ele Jr. said Lin had been a subject of an arrest warrant issued last Oct. 19 by Judge Agustin Dizon, of Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) Branch 80.

"He was a member of the Tan Mico Group responsible for setting up a clandestine shabu laboratory in Quezon City," Ele said.

The shabu laboratory located at Scout Chuatoco street in Barangay Obrero, Quezon City was dismantled by AIDSOTF operatives on March 1, 2004.

Seized during the raid were 30 kilos of shabu and 148 sacks (7,400 kilos) of ephedrine, assorted shabu precursors, essential chemicals and laboratory equipment worth billions, Ele said.

Lin and his cohorts had eluded arrest during the raid.

Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, SOU3 chief, said Lin was identified as one of the transporters of chemicals and equipment from the syndicate’s warehouse in Manila to the shabu laboratory in Quezon City.

Acierto said the Tan Mico Group was also behind the operation of the largest shabu laboratory in Antipolo City and another one in Pasig City, both of which were dismantled by AIDSOTF.

Lin and his cohorts went into hiding after drugbusters successfully crippled their operations in the country, he said.

Lin and several others had been charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs and conspiracy to manufacture illegal drugs and possession of precursors and essential chemicals before the Quezon City RTC.

Ele tasked Acierto to track down syndicate members who remain at large.

Lin chose to remain silent on the charges against him.

Ele ordered Lin committed to the Quezon City detention facility.