5 Chinese indicted for drugs

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted five Chinese men who were arrested in a raid on a shabu laboratory in Valenzuela City where suspected drug lord Meco Tan was shot dead last week.

Charges of possession of dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were filed against Yinglie Xu alias Henry Co, Xiong Bo He, Xiao Zhen He, Hao He and Xu Yingmei before the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court.

DOJ Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez found probable cause to indict the suspects.

The charges were filed by the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drug Group andPhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The DOJ resolution was approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

Police said around six kilos of ephedrine, a component in manufacturing shabu, were seized from the suspects after they were nabbed at the house of Tan in Barangay Linguanan on July 22.

Police said Tan, alleged operator of the shabu laboratory, was killed in a shootout.

Tan’s group is believed to be the supplier of shabu in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Tan was the first high-value drug suspect caught so far in the government’s war on drugs, which has targeted mostly small-time pushers and users.