Raid on pig farm yields underground shabu lab, seven Chinese
Government anti-drug agents on Wednesday found an underground shabu laboratory concealed in a pig farm in Magalang town, Pampanga where they also captured seven Chinese nationals.
The laboratory was hidden beneath a warehouse where feeds for pigs are stored. The hog farm is located in Barangay San Ildefonso, about three kilometers from the regional police training center and 500 meters from the main highway.
Wilkins Villanueva, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - National Capital Region director, said the clandestine laboratory has been operating for two months.
"We received information from our sources about the illegal activities at that farm," Villanueva said in a TV interview.
A report from PDEA said the raid by agents and police happened around 1 pm and subject of a search warrant by the Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court.
The seven Chinese citizens are Cao Zhen Wang, 31, Lieu Wang, 28, Xiao Po Zhang, 25, Sonny At, 48, Shi Jun Loang, 42, Was Ng Wanli, 41 and the lone woman, Susan Wang. Five minors, three who are also Chinese and alleged children of the Wang couple, were also found in the laboratory. They were turned over to social welfare workers.
Their passports showed the suspects to be natives of Xiamen province in China.
Twelve Filipino workers at the hog farm said they were unaware of the shabu laboratory inside the warehouse as the Chinese told them it is a restricted area.
Access to the laboratory is through a small room. Inside is a concrete over leading to a staircase down to the approximately 30-square meter room.
Authorities seized about two kilograms of shabu worth P10 milion, 20 kilos of ephedrine, several laboratory apparatus and various chemicals to manufacture shabu.
Villanueva said the laboratory can produce 20 to 30 kilos of shabu in a week.
Superintendent Roginald Francisco, Magalang police chief, said the farm has been in operating since 2014. A portion of the farm was leased a Chinese national about two months ago.
The suspects are facing cases for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The problem for the authorities is what to do with the 3,960 pigs.
"We are leaving up to the court for disposition of the pigs," said Francisco. Emmanuel Tupas
