Chinese nationals in P500-million shabu lab raid charged

MANILA, Philippines -  Two Chinese nationals tagged as the ones behind the operation of a clandestine laboratory in Malabon, where P500 million worth of shabu and equipment were recovered, were formally charged yesterday.

Superintendent Remus Medina, head of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operating Unit (RPIOU) charged Qingguou Nian, 42, and Dave Go with possession and sale of shabu before the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office and the manufacture of shabu before the Malabon prosecutor’s office.

Qingguou and Go, who are both being held at the RPIOU detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa are not cooperating in the police investigation to arrest other members of their alleged drug syndicate, said Medina.

“We have a follow-up operations ongoing. Hopefully we could hit pay dirt in the coming days,” Medina said. He refused to elaborate.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said the two suspects reportedly import their raw material from China.

He said the 40 kilos of shabu recovered from the two suspects during a drug bust in Caloocan City last Tuesday were produced in the kitchen-type shabu laboratory in Malabon City.

In his report to Bartolome, Medina identified Qingguou as the chemist of the drug syndicate. “He has been in the country for almost three years. He speaks Tagalog haltingly,” said Medina.

The RPIOU chief also pointed to Qingguou as the one who rented unit at the Silverwood Townhouses that was converted into a shabu laboratory.