4 Chinese nationals nabbed in shabu raid

Four Chinese nationals were arrested while more than P5-million worth of shabu were seized during a raid by combined anti-narcotics agents of their alleged drug laboratory in Aurora province yesterday.

Arrested were Zhi Qu, Ong Tua Ti, Zhin Na and Xian Tian, who is said to be the chemist in the shabu laboratory, said executive officer Henry de Vera of the National Bureau of Investigation-Reaction Arrest and Interdiction Division (RAID).

Arrested with the four was their alleged Filipino cohort.

"We also captured Francisco Ramos, who was found inside the shabu laboratory. But we would still have to investigate and check on his background. He claimed to be innocent and explained that he was merely a tricycle driver delivering the supply to the Chinese nationals," De Vera said.

Joint elements of the NBI and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted the operation, which De Vera said, yielded at least five kilos of finished products of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, worth P5 million. They also found the illegal drug still in crystallized and liquid forms.

"These Chinese nationals have reportedly been operating for about six months and deliver their supplies to Metro Manila," De Vera said.

To prevent being detected by the authorities, the suspects reportedly set up their laboratory near the shore at the Jonathan Resort located in Barangay Butas na Bato, Dingalan, Aurora. It took the NBI almost six months of surveillance before raiding the area.

They would also check if the resort owner was aware of this illegal operation.

When asked if the suspects were illegal aliens, De Vera said they still have to verify with the Bureau of Immigration.

PDEA Director Dionisio Santiago said assorted drug paraphernalia were also confiscated.

As of press time, the NBI and PDEA are still conducting an inventory of the recovered items and equipment, Santiago said.

He said the raid was sanctioned by a search warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court.

"The suspects have been placed on surveillance for several weeks based on the tip provided by our informants," Santiago said. — Evelyn Macairan, Raisa Austral, Jaime Laude