Authorities seize drugs worth P874M

By Jimmyley I. Guzman

Monday 18th of June 2012

QUEZON CITY, June 18 (PIA) -– Authorities from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently seized drugs worth around P874 million from an abandoned industrial laboratory in Parañaque City.

In a release, PDEA Assistant Secretary Carlos F. Gadapan confirmed the recovery of some 372 kilograms (kg) of ephedrine; 100 liters of liquid methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu); 8,419 kg of solid and 39, 884 liters of liquid chemicals; together with voluminous laboratory equipment and other materials used in the illegal manufacture of shabu from a concealed laboratory located in Km. 19, East Service Road, San Martin De Porres, Parañaque City last June 6, 2012.

“The property is about three times larger than the one-hectare clandestine laboratory in Ayala Alabang. The basement was used as laboratory for manufacturing shabu. The ground floor was utilized as storage for chemicals, while the second floor served as the cooling or drying area. Our chemists had to work for eight straight days to finish processing the facility and conducting chemical analysis,” Gadapan said.

Gadapan explained that the complete processing of the clandestine laboratory alone – which involves identification and markings of pieces of evidences, taking samples, conducting field tests, and taking full inventory – took four days, as the chemists had to work from one level of the property to another. He also said that another five days were spent to conduct analysis of 8,791 kg and 39,984 liters of drug evidence to determine chemical composition.

Gadapan also added the possibility that the recently abandoned mega-clandestine laboratory is connected with the three laboratories dismantled earlier this year in Ayala Alabang.

“All of these facilities employ the Nagai process using red phosphorous to manufacture shabu. We also found the same empty blister packs of Novahist discovered in Kanlaon and Country Club Drive in Ayala, Alabang, Muntinlupa,” Gadapan said.

Based on laboratory examination, Novahist contains pseudo-ephedrine, classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Novahist, manufactured in Pakistan, is not available in the Philippine market.

“We presume that these (Novahist) tablets are being smuggled into the country. It is not registered with the Bureau of Food and Drug. We also have no record that PDEA issued import permit for the legitimate importation of Novahist,” Gadapan explained. (PDEA/RJB/JEG-PIA NCR)