Floating shabu laboratory seized off Subic

SUBIC, Zambales, Philippines – A 50-meter fish carrier vessel that allegedly served as a floating shabu laboratory was seized off the coast of Subic town in Zambales late Monday.

Mayor Jay Khonghun and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa led the authorities in boarding the vessel and arresting four Chinese from Hong Kong and seizing half a kilo of shabu.

“We confiscated half a kilo of suspected shabu worth P2.5 million which was tested and confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to be positive for shabu,” Khonghun said.

De la Rosa added the boat was being used to bring illegal drugs to the Philippines from abroad.

He said shabu is manufactured on the boat over two days before the finished product is dumped overboard to be retrieved by locals for distribution.

De la Rosa said the boat’s route possibly includes Ilocos to Cagayan and Ilocos to Pangasinan from Subic. The vessel is registered in China.

Senior Supt. Bert Ferro, chief of the PNP Anti Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG), identified the arrested suspects as Weng Fai Lo, Shu Folk Leung, Kam Wah Kwok and Kwok Tung Chan, all from Hong Kong.

AIDG spokesman Supt. Enrico Rigor said one of the suspects reportedly came to the Philippines about three times as a tourist.

Ferro said there is possibility that the floating shabu laboratory may have manufactured and delivered the more than 180 kilos of shabu seized in Claveria, Cagayan recently.

Authorities boarded the fishing boat anchored off the coast of Barangay Calapandayan late Monday. Lawmen were prompted to conduct the raid following intelligence reports that the Chinese registered boat was being used to transport drugs.

Ferro said the crew could not produce any proper documents, prompting the lawmen to search the vessel.

With the help of K-9 units from the Coast Guard, the lawmen saw traces indicating the presence of illegal drugs on board.

Lawmen also found a set of hydrogenerator used in manufacturing shabu. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan, Ric Sapnu, Robertzon Ramirez