P.3-B shabu chemical seized in Bulacan raid

BOCAUE, Bulacan — Some P300 million worth of ephedrine, the main ingredient in making shabu, was seized in a raid in Bocaue, Bulacan yesterday afternoon by elements of Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (AIDSOTF).

Director Marcelo Ele Jr., AIDSOTF chief, said 100 kilos of ephedrine were confiscated from Building 3, Unit 4 of the Violeta Mansions in Barangay Turo, Bocaue, Bulacan, reportedly belonging to a Chinese-Taiwanese transnational syndicate engaged in drug trafficking.

Ele said the foreigner-suspects managed to elude arrest during the raid, which was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Petrita Dime of the Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 14.

Ele, PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon and Undersecretary Rodolfo Caisip of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personally supervised the raid.

The 100 kilos of ephedrine seized could reportedly produce 100 kilos of shabu, which could fetch some P600 million based on the present price of P6,000 per gram of shabu.

According to Ele, the raid was conducted following reports that several suspicious-looking Taiwanese-Chinese nationals were seen in the townhouse.

"Those who eluded arrest were confirmed to be henchmen of the Cheng Hsiang Ting group, a Chinese-Taiwanese transnational syndicate engaged in drug trafficking. The syndicate has a sub-group operating in the Philippines headed by Chunag Feng Ming alias Jacky Chuan," he said.

Based on records, Chuan, who is wanted in Taiwan on drug-related crimes, was responsible for the mini-ketamine laboratory in a condo unit in Burgundy Towers in Malate, Manila, which was raided last July 6.

The mini-ketamine laboratory was discovered after a fire broke out in the condominium.

"Chuan was reportedly planning to establish a clandestine laboratory somewhere in Central Luzon with the support of the Cheng Hsiang Ting group," Ele said.

He said the group initially smuggled into the country the 100 kilos of ephedrine, but their operations suffered a setback after the AIDSOTF managed to trace and seize their equipment buried inside a warehouse in Parañaque City last month.

"The members of the Cheng Hsiang Ting group lay low in the guise of running a seafood export business in Parañaque but acceded on the advice of Chuan on condition that they would share part of the proceeds," Ele said.

Ele said the Cheng Hsiang Ting and Chuang Hao Tsai groups have apparently been helping one another in their operations.

"The collusion of the two drug syndicates was further confirmed by the findings that the equipment in Parañaque City of the Tsai group was supposed to be transported to Central Luzon for the use of the Ting group," Ele said.