PNP RAIDS YIELD SUSPECTED DRUG INGREDIENTS

POLICEMEN raided a warehouse in Manila and a building in Valenzuela City
Saturday in separate operations against illegal drugs laboratories and
storehouses.

Members of the Western Police District's anti-illegal drugs division raided
a warehouse on Abad Santos Street in Tondo around noon, said Supt.
Marcelino Pedrozo, division head.

Pedrozo said chemicals stored in several sacks and plastic containers were
found inside the warehouse, along with weighing scales, stoves, stainless
steel containers and other equipment believed to be used in the manufacture
of shabu (metamphetamine hydrochloride).

He identified some of the chemicals found in the warehouse as sodium
acetate, sodium hydroxide, chloroform and muriatic acid. He could not give
the exact amount of chemicals because that would still have to be
determined by a chemist.

Several packs of a white substance suspected to be shabu were also found,
but Pedrozo declined to say whether they were the actual illegal drug until
certified by experts.

The WPD anti-drug chief expressed belief that the warehouse functioned as a
storage area rather than as an actual shabu laboratory.

Nobody was arrested during the operation, but the renter of the place has
been identified as a certain Eugene Tan.

Suspicious materials

Pedrozo said the police raided the warehouse after its owners, who make up
a corporation, called him up to inform him of the suspicious products being
stored there by the renter.

"They were probably afraid of being suspected of involvement in an illegal
operation," he said.

But he also requested that the name of the corporation and its members be
withheld to protect them from retaliation from drug groups.

In Valenzuela City, thick smoke emanating from a building led to the
discovery Thursday night of several sacks of chemicals suspected to be used
in the manufacture of shabu.

Roger Ang, 52, of 18th Street, Villa Liwayway, Maysan, Valenzuela, was
identified as the owner of the warehouse, which he reportedly leased to a
certain Jimmy Coo Hou.

Investigation revealed that Valenzuela firefighters had received a call
from a resident saying that there was a fire going on in the area.

However, when firefighters got to the place, they found out that the smoke
was coming from two of the 147 drums containing different chemicals,
including thionyl chloride and acetone, stocked inside the warehouse.

Burning chemicals

Crime laboratory experts said the smoke was due to the chemical reaction
when the drums and the substances it contained became wet when heavy rain
fell and strong winds penetrated the building.

Aside from the chemicals, firefighters also discovered equipment, such as a
mixer and burner, presumed to be used in the manufacture of illegal drugs,
prompting them to call the police.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Floro Alejo, the police raided
the warehouse at about 7 p.m. However, the alleged owner of the chemicals
and equipment managed to escape.

Although Chief Supt. Marcelino Franco, Northern Police District director,
claimed that some of the substances were being used in the manufacture of
shabu, he said this could only be confirmed by crime laboratory experts and
members of the Scene of the Crime Operation.