4 Chinese arrested, P1-B drugs seized

Over P1 billion worth of illegal drugs and substances were seized by joint police operatives from a warehouse in Valenzuela City yesterday that also resulted in the arrest of four Chinese drug dealers and their Filipino cohort, police said.

Raiding lawmen led by Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay of the Philippine National Police-Anti- Illegal Drugs Special Task Force (PNP-AIDSTF) swooped down on the warehouse located inside an industrial enclave on Benito Hao street in Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela City.

Along with agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the lawmen seized at least 150 kilos of refined shabu and 1,500 kilos of ephedrine and other chemicals used in manufacturing the drugs.

Aglipay personally presented the suspects to President Arroyo, who made an inspection of the site yesterday.

The arrested suspects were identified as Go Siak Ping, 43, Tan Ty Siao, 47, Co Chai Ong, 35, Ong Chi Seng, 33, all from Fujian, China, and their alleged Chinese-Filipino cohort Robert Uy, 48.

Police said the arrest of the suspects led the lawmen to the warehouse where the drugs and chemicals, as well as equipment for mass production of shabu, were seized.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Valenzuela regional trial court Judge Floro Alejo, police seized the drugs which were neatly stashed in five-kilo bags inside 35 sala sets and furniture, just as they were being readied for delivery to dealers in the Visayas and Mindanao for distribution.

A report from the National Capital Region Police Office under Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco also said the gang ran the drug operation from the warehouse using as a front a Chinese products-importing business.

Aglipay added the syndicate started their operations a month ago when police began its surveillance.

"We believe the suspects are using their import business as a front for their illegal activities," Aglipay said.

Aglipay said the suspects are members of "the Fujian connection," one of the nine international drug syndicates targeted by the police for neutralization.

Strike Two

Chief Inspector Rio Gatacilo, Northern Police District (NPD) scene of the crime office (SOCO) chief, said the drug haul was worth P1 billion based on their initial estimate.

"After everything has been confirmed by the (NPD)-SOCO, I believe this (catch) could amount to about three times more. This is, so far, the biggest in terms of quantity," Aglipay said.

Chief PNP-AIDSTF operative Superintendent Nelson Yabut said the seizure could be the biggest for this year.

He added that the owner of the 5,000-square meter warehouse, a certain James Go Ong, is now being hunted by the police for possible complicity.

"He must show us the contract proving he leased his warehouse in good faith," he said.

Aglipay added police intelligence reports indicate Valenzuela City is being used as distribution point by the suspects.

He said many drug syndicates also prefer using Valenzuela as transit point for drugs because of its strategic location as well as the presence of many warehouses in remote places in the city.

Yesterday’s raid was the second in the city since December last year, when billions of pesos worth of shabu and ephedrine were also seized at a two-story warehouse in Barangay Lawang Bato.

The building in the December raid was leased by Lee Yuk Sau to another Chinese national, Wang Shi. The two are still the subject of a massive police manhunt.

The raid yesterday was also the second in the jurisdiction of NPD director Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., who President Arroyo earlier scolded over his poor performance in the renewed campaign against drugs.

Along with Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento, both police officials got the presidential scolding during a conference on the barangay anti-illegal drugs clearing operations at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame Monday.

Mrs. Arroyo even asked Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong to share his ideas with the two police generals who were given a second chance to improve their performance.

Aglipay went to their rescue when he talked to the President about the role of barangay leaders in the campaign against drugs.

Aglipay earlier reported that at least 280 barangays have been cleared in Manila, 55 barangays in southern Metro Manila, 27 in Quezon City while only 14 barangays each were cleared in eastern and northern districts.

"We can see that our drug campaign has been working round the clock quietly and diligently despite the controversies going around," Mrs. Arroyo said yesterday.

She said the government would bring the fight against drugs to the barangay level.

"We are bringing the fight to the barangays for while we have been working in the provinces. I think our big problem is here in Metro Manila," Mrs. Arroyo said. - With Non Alquitran, AFP