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BOC sets inventory of goods seized in Caloocan shabu lab raid

By Ferdinand Patinio

March 14, 2022, 12:45 pm

<p><em>(Photo courtesy of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port)</em></p>

(Photo courtesy of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port)

MANILA – An inventory will be conducted on other imported goods found in a shabu laboratory recently raided by authorities headed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

In a statement Monday, the bureau said an assigned Customs examiner will make a list of the items such as blankets and bags.

The composite team headed by the BOC Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), raided the laboratory located along A. Mabini St., in Maypajo, Caloocan City on March 11, to implement the letter of authority and the mission order signed by Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Jeoffrey Tacio said the operation was a follow-up to the buy-bust operation last March 8, 2022, when they first apprehended illegal drugs manufactured in the laboratory.

He said the discovery of the clandestine laboratory stemmed from close cooperation and case build-up led by the Intelligence and Investigation Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“Successful operations such as these wouldn’t be possible without the close coordination between other law enforcement agencies,” the BOC official added.

The raiding team found a liquid substance that tested positive as illegal drugs after immediately being identified by a chemist from PDEA.

Also seized were various containers of different colors containing liquid substance, weighing scale, aluminum trays, rice cooker, one vacuum pump and several metal containers with cover, one sealer machine, refrigerator, several plastic wares, assorted controlled precursors, and essential chemicals (CPECS), various laboratory equipment, and various financial documents.

According to the agency, the laboratories can produce three kilos of shabu a day and have been operating for more than a year. No suspects were nabbed during the raid.

The operation came just a few days after Chinese national Tianzhu Lyu from Fujian, China, and his Filipino cohort Meliza Villanueva yielded PHP1 billion worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Valenzuela City.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro said the bureau will continue to investigate the presence of small-scale shabu laboratories in the country to stop the domestic production of illegal drugs and other substances in the country.

“While we protect our borders from the entry of drugs and any products used for its production, it is high time that we also eliminate the small-scale domestic production of shabu and any other drugs that these criminals peddle on the streets,” he added.

The operation was also in coordination with the BOC-Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) and Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group. (PNA)

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