Shabu lord’s chief aide in custody?

The alleged right hand man of suspected drug trafficker Wang Yashi was arrested yesterday in Metro Manila by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Sketchy reports identified the suspect as James Chua who was nabbed by anti-narcotics agents of the NBI yesterday morning. Chua operates a brokerage firm in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco, who is now in Cebu, confirmed having received a report about the arrest of Chua from NBI narcotics division chief Ruel Lasala. Wycoco however, could not provide additional details.

According to the reports, the NBI agents seized from Chua several equipment allegedly used in the manufacture of shabu. No details about the arrest of Chua was also available from the NBI’s anti-narcotics group.

The NBI has started coordinated with their Chinese counterparts in tracking down Wang and his partner Deng Xiao Li , who both fled to China.

"We have sought the help of Chinese authorities to find out where in China are these suspects hiding," said NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco.

According to the NBI, Wang and Deng left the country following the discovery of their shabu laboratories in Navotas and Quezon City, and the burning of another laboratory in Valenzuela City.

Last Dec. 13, combined agents of the NBI and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) swooped down on a private warehouse in Navotas and seized at least 1 billion worth of chemicals suspected to be used in the manufacture of shabu.

Wycoco said the raid on the warehouse located at 1060 North Bay Boulevard was conducted following information that it supplied the materials for the shabu factory in Valenzuela City that was gutted by fire early last month.

Police found at least P2.2 billion worth of shabu in the razed factory. According to the PDEA, it was the biggest shabu factory in the Philippines so far.

On Jan. 3, NBI agents raided a townhouse along Sobrepena street in New Manila, Quezon City which has been converted to a shabu laboratory.

Randy Chua, the alleged owner of the New Manila townhouse, is now being tracked down by the NBI.

According to the NBI, Wang arrived in the country on Dec. 3 to check on the operations of the three shabu factories in Navotas, Valenzuela and New Manila. Wang however, left for China a day after the Valenzuela laboratory was razed by fire. – Mike Frialde