MANILA, Aug 9 (Reuter) Philippine police have arrested two Chinese
nationals and seized 10.8 million pesos ($3.78 million) worth of illegal
drugs.

Interior Secretary Robert Barbers told a news briefing on Saturday that the
two arrested were believed to be members of a Taiwanbased drugtrafficking
syndicate operating in the Philippines and other Asian countries.

Barbers said a police team last Thursday raided the suspected drug laboratory
where the Chinese nationals were staying.

Some 800,000 pesos ($28,060) worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride,
otherwise known as ice or shabu, and 10 million pesos worth of the drug
ephedrine were seized by the police.

Barbers said police chased five other men who ran from the laboratory but
lost them.

The drug bust came three days after Philippine police and military officials
agreed to set aside their differences after warring among themselves over who
should lead the antidrugs campaign.

Last week, a businessman in military custody named 15 police officers as part
of a drug syndicate. The statement angered the police department which said
military officials may have fabricated it to damage their reputation.
($ 28.51 pesos)

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