Shabu factory in Pasig busted

Eleven suspected members of an international drug syndicate, eight of them Chinese nationals operating in Metro Manila, were arrested by the police during a raid on a shabu laboratory in Pasig City last Tuesday night.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza said the raid also led to the confiscation of about five kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P10-million, in six plastic bags.

A pail containing about five kilos of ingredients utilized for shabu "crystallization" were also seized, along with eight large containers with 210 liters of a liquid substance. The substances are used in manufacturing shabu, police said.

Police also seized other raw materials used in the manufacture of shabu such as iodized salt and hydrochloric acid and soda flakes.

Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante said his men also seized six cellular phones, two Ingram machine pistols with a silencer, an Uzi and assorted ammunition, one Claymor mine, blasting caps and detonating cords.

Justice Secretary Hernani Perez and Mendoza presented the suspects to members of the media yesterday.

Mendoza said the operation is "another big crippling blow" against organized drug syndicates and commended NCRPO operatives.

NCRPO deputy director for operations Chief Superintendent Romulo Sales said the raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Marietta Legazpi, of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 165.

Police operatives swooped down on the house of Xing Wang at 44, San Agustin St. Capitol 8 Subdivision, Pasig City. The shabu laboratory was located at the back of Wang’s house.

Prior to the raid, Sales said a separate NCRPO team conducted a buy-bust operation in the vicinity of Nipa Hut Restaurant located along Hillcrest Road, Pasig City.

The pay-off was almost complete when three of the suspects, on board a white Toyota Grandia Van (WPV 611), sensed the presence of lawmen and immediately sped-off.

A car chase ensued that ended on Magallanes Avenue, Makati City. First to fall were Ronal Yao, Chua Lin Yen and Wen Jin Cai.

Recovered from them were 500 grams of shabu and P4,000 in marked bills and boodle money.

During interrogation, the arrested suspects identified their leader as Cai Hontian, alias Huai Ia, reportedly a doctor and head chemist of the group, with address at 18 Elcano St., Binondo, Manila. Sales said Cai Hontian is now being hunted by NCRPO operatives.

Also arrested were Xing Wang, alias Hawk Chua Villanueva, 31, a chemist from Fujan, China and residing at 44 San Agustin St., Barangay Capitolyo, Pasig City; Chua Chi y Li, 37, also from Fujan, China; Huang Hongwei, 34, businessman from Fujan, China, both residing in Binondo, Manila; Joey Lu y Cruz, native of Fukien, China and residing in Sta. Cruz, Manila; Ronal Yao Cruz, 25, also from Fujan, China and residing in Visayas Ave., Quezon City.

Also arrested were Chua Lin yen, 20, also from Fujan, China; Wen Jin Cai, 23, businessman and residing at Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City; Luven San Juan y Llamas, 19, native of Butuan, Agusan del Norte; Geneveve Ordono y Purisima, 20, native of Prosperedad St., Agusan del Norte; Analyn Plaza, 23, of Diamond Road, Better Living Subd., Parañaque City; and Tomas Lu, 34, of Tianamen, China, of 44 San Agustin St., Pasig City.

The 11 suspects are now detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

Charges of violation of the Dangerous Drug Act (RA 6425), and Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives (PD 1866) are being prepared for filing with the Department of Justice, police said.