P100-million shabu seized in Sta. Ana drug raid

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) arrested five Chinese nationals and confiscated from them 20 kilos of shabu with a street value of P100 million during a raid in Manila Thursday.

NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales said the five suspects reportedly belong to a drug syndicate believed behind the operation of a clandestine shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratory discovered in Taguig City recently.

“This anti-drug operation is a continuing process. We expect to arrest other members of the syndicate in due time,” Rosales said in an interview.

Those arrested were identified as Ming Yuan Yuet, 40; Danny Tan, 30; Aga Co, 33; Eugene Co, 32, and Michelle Lee, 24, all Chinese nationals.

After the raid in Taguig City months back, Rosales directed Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the regional police intelligence and operation unit (RPIOU), to conduct follow-up raids.

Based on information given by suspects arrested in the Taguig raid, Francisco conducted surveillance operation on tenants of Unit 63 Eurovilla Homes along New Panaderos street in Sta. Ana.

Rosales said samples bought during a test buy were determined by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as high-grade shabu.

Francisco served Thursday a search warrant in the presence of barangay chairman Abraham Sejosta; Manila assistant prosecutor Ma. Theresa Basillo and Jean Banaay, administrator of the Eurovilla Townhomes. The warrant was issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Amor Reyes.

Francisco said the five suspects gave themselves up peacefully. Aside from 20 kilos of high-grade shabu, the raiding team also seized two containers of a brown liquid they suspect to be raw material for the manufacture of shabu, as well as various other laboratory equipment.

Police also found six plastic bags of brown capsules, 14,500-milliliter bottles of glucose solution, a washing machine and dryer, and two weighing scales.

The NCRPO chief said the Chinese nationals chose to remain silent. “They pretend that they cannot speak our dialect. Our agents engaged them only in a sign language,” Rosales said, adding that they are hiring an interpreter.

Rosales ordered that all confiscated items be turned over to the PDEA while the five suspects were charged for possession of dangerous drugs and other paraphernalia before the Manila prosecutor’s office.