Charges set vs 7 Chinese suspects in Pampanga shabu lab

The police detained seven Chinese nationals (four seen in this photo) after a raid at a piggery farm led to a suspected shabu laboratory beneath a feeds warehouse in Barangay Balitucan in Magalang, Pampanga. Police discovered the facility on Wednesday (Sept. 7). PHOTO BY TONETTE T. OREJAS/INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga —  As much as 468 grams of methamphetamine, 20 kilograms of suspected ephedrine, and assorted equipment used in the manufacture of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), were recovered from seven Chinese nationals who were arrested in a Sept. 7 raid on an underground laboratory in a Pampanga town.

Alvin Wang, Philip Chang, Wang Shi Yu, Lieu Wang, Susan Wang, Xia Po Chang and Sonny At from Xiamen in China were caught at the piggery farm in Magalang town, where the laboratory was concealed beneath a feed mill that doubled as a warehouse.

They face charges for manufacturing and for possessing narcotics.

The laboratory could produce up to 100 kilograms of shabu weekly. Entrance to the underground laboratory was hidden by a large wooden chest.

The piggery in Balitucan village started operations two years ago and the warehouse was built four months ago, according to village chief Marcial Alfaro.

The piggery is accessible via Nueva Ecija and the North Luzon Expressway. PDEA National Capital Region Director Wilkins Villanueva said the Magalang facility are part of a network of five shabu laboratories in Luzon.

Five minors found in the piggery were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
SFM