30 kilos more of shabu recovered in Valenzuela

Operatives of the Northern Police District (NPD) Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Group uncovered at least 30 more kilos of shabu hidden in the raided warehouse in Valenzuela City where four Chinese drug dealers and their Filipino cohort were arrested.

Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., NPD director, said that the illegal drugs, still in liquid form, were placed inside several water containers in an underground at the back of the storehouse used as a depository for imported illegal drugs by the apprehended suspects.

"As our men conducted a thorough search of the area, they stumbled upon a manhole were they found a ladder going down to it," Franco said.

Lawmen, led by Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF), raided Tuesday a warehouse inside an industrial enclave on Benito Hao Street, Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela City.

The operation resulted in the arrest of Go Siak Ping, 43; Tan Ty Siao, 47; Co Chai Ong, 35; Ong Chi Seng, 33; all from Fujian, China, and their Filipino cohort, Robert Uy, 48.

Police initially seized some 150 kilos of shabu and around 1,500 kilos of ephedrine and other chemicals and equipment used in manufacturing the illegal drugs.

Chief Inspector Rafael Santiago Jr., NPD anti-narcotics chief, said that the estimated P1-billion amount of the seized refined shabu could be tripled once they finish the accounting of all the seized illegal drugs.

Santiago said that the warehouse owner, a certain James Go Ong, would be investigated to explain the circumstances on the rental of the warehouse.

President Arroyo lauded the raid and said that it is so far the biggest haul in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, and is a major breakthrough that would lead to the dramatic reduction in supply and demand.

Mrs. Arroyo made this remark during the Peace and Development Summit held in Malolos.

The President also lauded the national police’s intensified intelligence gathering and heightened operations against drug traffickers operating in the country.

"This is so far the biggest catch of the government’s drive against illegal drugs, and considering the gravity of the country’s drug problem, this should be used to gauge the performance of police officials," Mrs. Arroyo said in her speech.

The Chief Executive said she is happy that now, even homeowners’ groups in subdivisions and other communities have already expressed their willingness in joining the fight against illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Franco said that the NPD has embarked on a more aggressive drive against illegal drugs and expects to clear 50 percent of the 170 barangays affected by illegal drugs in the northern part of Metro Manila by the end of the year.

Franco made the declaration after Mrs. Arroyo personally congratulated him for the Valenzuela bust.

"We are not soft in our drive against illegal drugs, and urge my men to just continue working and let the people be our judge," Franco said.