Ayala Alabang shabu lab raided

MANILA, Philippines - Five Chinese were arrested when Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel raided a clandestine shabu laboratory housed in a residential compound in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City yesterday.

The suspects had been renting the property at 504 Acacia Avenue, estimated to be about a hectare, since July last year, the agency said. PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. named the five suspects as Ken Ming Chao, alias Lam Tse Kin, 49; Choi Yiu Kit, 33; Choi Yiu Chun, 33; Kwok Chi Keung, 42; and Lam Ka Chun, 51.

Agents seized methamphetamine hydrochloride in powder form, controlled drug precursors and essential chemicals and laboratory equipment. Gutierrez described the facility as a “medium-scale” laboratory, which can yield about 10 kilos of shabu per production cycle, which takes two to three days.

Evangeline Almenario, head of the agency’s public information office, said the enclosed lot has a main house, two small structures used as storage rooms, and a swimming pool.

The main house and the two other structures where the production was allegedly done, with each of them housing each stage of the shabu manufacturing process.

In an interview, Almenario said it was not surprising that residents in the posh subdivision were unaware that shabu manufacturing was actually happening in their neighborhood. She said while a distinct smell of chemicals and wilting plants usually alert neighbors to the presence of a clandestine shabu laboratory, the size of the property in Ayala Alabang ensured that the smell would dissipate before it reached the neighbors. The plants on the property appeared normal.

“There were no signs that something like that was happening inside,” Almenario said.

She said PDEA has been monitoring the suspects’ movements since last year. “They (suspects) had been transferring from one place to another until they rented the property in Ayala Alabang,” Almenario said.

Armed with a search warrant from a Manila court, the agents raided the facility at past 4 a.m. yesterday.

Almenario said they already have the name of the owner of the property but noted the information was still being verified.

Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro said the drug syndicate may have chosen Ayala Alabang because access to the village “is restricted to the homeowners and their authorized guest.” He said the laxity of the local officials could have allowed the syndicate to operate in the village.

According to Almenario, Fuerte Holdings Inc. is the intermediate manager for the rental of the property. The firm, which receives the monthly rent payment of P260,000, is owned by the family of the late Chito Madrigal-Collantes.