PDEA tests confirm Taguig lab made high-grade shabu

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) tests confirm that the shabu seized during last month’s raid on a clandestine laboratory in Taguig City is high-grade, police said yesterday.

Metro Manila police chief Director Roberto Rosales said the liquid shabu, which PDEA said was of “high purity,” filled 18 drums.

“The chemicals were already mixed and all the drug syndicate have to do is to dry them up for it to become shabu,” he said.

Rosales said he strongly believes the shabu was intended for export. He noted that if one drum contains at least 50 kilos, law enforcers were able to prevent the distribution of 900 kilos of shabu locally and abroad.

“Imagine if these shabu supply reached its supposed market, a big number of persons would turn into drug addicts,” he said.

Rosales said he received reports that the shabu sold in Metro Manila is of low quality and valued at P6,000 per gram or P6 million per kilo.

During the raid on the shabu laboratory, housed in a warehouse on Carlo Drive in Mañalac subdivision, Barangay Bagumbayan, PDEA agents listed down P10 billion worth of chemicals and equipment.

The raid was preceded by the arrest of William Altejeros, alias Charlie Sy Lim, 40; and Goufu Fu, 30, who reportedly sold half a kilo of shabu for P4 million. A team led by Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit, apprehended them.

Police said under interrogation, Alterejos and Fu admitted being involved in the operation of the shabu laboratory.

Francisco filed illegal possession of shabu charges before the Taguig City prosecutors’ office against Altejeros and Fu, who were denied bail.

Francisco told The STAR that they re awaiting for the final results of the PDEA tests on the seized chemicals and equipment so additional charges would be filed against Altejeros and Fu.

Rosales claimed they are closely coordinating with the office of Taguig City Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga to find out who owns the property in which the shabu laboratory was established.