3 Tondo shabu laboratory suspects face raps

MANILA, Philippines - Criminal charges were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a Taiwanese chemist and two Chinese nationals arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during a raid on a clandestine drug laboratory in Tondo, Manila that yielded P200 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) Thursday night.

Wu Tzu Chuan, a Taiwanese national, and Chinese nationals Lito Ang and Chen Jun Yang were charged with the manufacture of dangerous drugs.

In a press conference held yesterday, NBI director Nestor Mantaring said his agency received information last Feb. 13 from the from the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) of Taiwan that Wu, a Taiwanese chemist working for a transnational drug syndicate, will be arriving in Manila to manufacture shabu.

The NBI placed Wu on a 24-hour surveillance upon his arrival from Taiwan. Wu reportedly checked into a hotel in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

On Feb. 26, Wu, Ang and four others left the hotel and were seen entering the gate of a four-story building along Honorio Lopez Avenue in Balut, Tondo. The building was being leased by Ang.

On March 19, the raiding team seized 5.7 kilos of powdered shabu; 36.2 kilos of liquid shabu; chemicals and various equipment; 117 tin cans of solvent; and 80 cylindrical cans containing an unknown liquid.

The shabu alone had an estimated street value at P200 million. The value of the equipment’s value was undetermined.