PDEA seizes shabu chemicals in Caraga raid

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized last Monday night 43 drums of hydrochloric acid worth P430,000 that could be used for manufacturing shabu.

PDEA Caraga director Gilbert Buenafe seized the chemicals after a raid at the warehouse of Juchem Enterprises is Purok 1, No. 3 Pulido St., Doongan in this city.  

According to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Northern Mindanao, the shipment from India arrived in four 20-foot containers at the Mindanao Container Port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental last Jan. 31.

BOC spokesman Neil Estrella said the bureau seized the shipment after the consignee Juchem Enterprises failed to present an importation permit.

The STAR tried to get the side of officials of Juchem Enterprises but workers claimed the owners were not available. 

Records at the Butuan City Permits Division showed that Juchem Enterprises’ business permits cover local trading, buy and sell of a variety of commercial products but not trading of chemicals, which required an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other special requirements, including a permit from PDEA.

Under RA 9165 or Comprehensive Anti-Drugs Law, PDEA has regulatory compliance authority over 23 UN-listed chemicals, drugs or substance known as Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals, Substance or chemicals used in making shabu.

Last Feb. 14, some 320 drums of hydrochloric acid were also seized at the Mindanao Container Port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

PDEA regional director Buenafe said that initial investigation showed that the shipment seized in Misamis Oriental was intended for a mining company in Caraga.

He said that PDEA is investigating if the hydrochloric acid would be used for mining or for the manufacture of illegal drugs.