Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Police discovered a “mini” shabu (crystal methamphetamine) laboratory in a house along Tamarind Drive, Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City during a buy-bust operation past 1 a.m. Wednesday (May 4).
Officers of the National Capital Region (NCR) Police – Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs unit also managed to confiscate 55 kilos of illegal drugs worth approximately P275 million in street value.
“Meron buy-bust [operation] tayo ginawa sa harap ng bahay… after that nakita natin yung mini shabu laboratory,” said NCR Police Regional Director Joel Pagdilao.
[Translation: “We conducted a buy-bust [operation] in front of the house… after that we saw the mini shabu laboratory.”]
Of the 55 kilos of illegal drugs recovered, 25 kilos were from the police operative’s purchase while 30 kilos were made in the mini shabu laboratory.
Authorities also found chemicals used to make shabu. “More or less, nakagawa to ng two to five kilos [ng shabu] yung isang freezer dun sa drier, o maaring five to 10 kilos a day,” Pagdilao explained.
[Translation: “More or less, one freezer in the drier can make two to five kilos [of shabu], or about five to 10 kilos a day.”]
Three Taiwanese nationals were arrested: 19 year-old Pong Jun, 27 year-old Chen Hu Min, and 24 year-old Eugene Chong.
Pagdilao said the mini shabu laboratory is possibly one of the biggest sources of illegal drugs spreading in Metro Manila.
He advised homeowner officials in exclusive villages to be vigilant, as there could be similar shabu laboratories operating in their respective areas.
