Authorities raid cars, but find equipment used to make shabu?

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) thought they have stumbled into what could be another shabu laboratory yesterday in barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion after finding equipment that are used in the manufacture of the street drug.

The raid was originally conducted by the agents of the NBI led by Rene Mandawe of the NBI Bohol Detachment and NBI-Cebu's Atty. Hermie Monsanto. They were armed with a warrant issued by Judge Geraldine Faith Econg of RTC branch 9 to search the warehouse for suspicion of being used in the smuggling of right-hand drive vehicles.

It was Mandawe, who received the information about the warehouse and he relayed the same to the regional office, which conducted a surveillance operation.

It has been reported that 40-footer vans would come in and out of the warehouse, which prompted the authorities to suspect something.

The subjects of the warrant were Rocky and Esteban Go. It was not however ascertained as of presstime how they were related.

Rocky allegedly rented the warehouse owned by Esteban. Both of them were not at the warehouse during the raid, which was witnessed by barangay officials.

Recovered by the NBI agents were a Toyota Lucida van and a Honda Civic, both right hand drive vehicles.

In the course of going through what were inside the warehouse for purposes of documentation, the agents stumbled upon equipment, which are similar to those being used in laboratories manufacturing shabu. This prompted them to inform the PDEA-7 and the Consolacion Police.

Found in the warehouse were a mixer, a boiler, and a dryer aside from various chemicals, which heightened their suspicion.

Initial tests conducted on the chemicals that were recovered however showed no traces of raw materials being used in the production of methampethamine hydrochloride.

Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob, who also witnessed the raid, said that the place used to be a factory for mosquito coils, which was closed due to loses.

The NBI will however conduct further investigation and tests to ascertain that the place is not really used as a clandestine shabu laboratory.

The two vehicles that were confiscated are now in the custody of the NBI-7 while the warehouse has been padlocked. - Flor Z. Perolina