Pubdate: Wed, 05 Jan 2005 Source: Sunstar Davao (Philippines) Copyright: 2005 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1991 Note: also listed for feedback Author: Ben O. Tesiorna Cited: Drug Enforcement Administration http://www.dea.gov Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids) LAB REVEALS SHABU EQUIPMENT THE shabu laboratory and a residence along Del Pilar Street in Barrio Obrero, earlier raided for the presence of 10 undocumented Chinese nationals last January 1, was finally opened Tuesday and revealed suspected shabu-making materials and equipment. Another warehouse is scheduled to be raided Wednesday. Both the Obrero laboratory and a warehouse were believed owned by Allan Sy, the same suspected owner of the shabu factory that was raided last December 31 in Dumoy, Talomo district. The Obrero laboratory is just beside the Arlene Apartment, one unit of which was where Sy and his wife Jed Pilapil-Sy lived in. A foreign chemist, who was being monitored by international drug enforcement groups, immediately went to the apartment upon his arrival in Davao City. It was at that time when Sy was just about to set up his shabu-making operations in October this year, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 Chief Wilkins Villanueva said. Several crates of liquid chemicals and other equipment believed to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride popularly known as shabu were recovered from the Obrero warehouse. Armed with search warrants, elements from the PDEA led byVillanueva first raided the warehouse in Obrero. The raiding team first swooped on this warehouse on January 1 and rounded up the ten illegal Chinese with the help of the Bureau of Immigrations. The said warehouse is just a stone's throw away from the apartment rented by Sy and his wife Jed Pilapil-Sy. One Carlos Sy, a neighbor and said to be the one guarding the warehouse, received and signed the search warrant. Carlos however denied being the guard of the warehouse. He said he was just a neighbor and had no knowledge about the illegal operation inside. He was nevertheless invited by the police authorities for questioning. It was learned that Jed Sy was also invited to the PDEA for questioning. Inside the Obrero warehouse, three container trucks were found with one of the trucks containing three barrels of liquid chemicals and a hydrogenator said to be used in the manufacture of shabu. Several cartons of instant noodles and two sacks of ephedrine were also found at a staff house located inside the compound. Hundreds of crates of liquid chemicals were also found at the adjacent warehouse as well as several electronic air filters, pumps and acetylene gas tanks. American Timothy Teal, head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration office here in the Philippines, also arrived at the scene. Teal and his team inspected the chemicals found inside. They refused to give any statement saying they will have to first conduct tests on the chemicals recovered. In an earlier interview, Supt. Villanueva said they will also be raiding the Polytex Davao Industrial Corporation located at Km. 23 Bunawan after receiving reports that several equipment belonging to Allan Sy were found inside the compound. Villanueva said officials from the Duratex company informed them about the equipment. It was learned that Duratex and Polytex are adjacent to each other inside a large compound with vehicles having to pass thru Duratex before reaching Polytex. The PDEA 11 chief said the equipment found at the Polytex warehouse is enough to make a "mega shabu laboratory". - ---