MANILA, Philippines—Two alleged members of a Chinese drug syndicate who entered the country as missionaries were arrested in Mandaluyong City for selling P600,000-worth of suspected “methamphetamine hydrochloride,” or shabu to an undercover anti-narcotics agent, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official said Monday.
In a belated report, PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr. identified the Chinese suspects as Andy Ong, a.k.a Wang Rong Chu, 36; and Asy Lee, 42—who are both suspected members of the Chua-Li Drug Trafficking Group.
He said Ong and Lee were arrested in a buy-bust operation at the vicinity of a coffee shop in Robinson’s Pioneer Centre, along Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City on September 15 after allegedly selling roughly 100 grams of shabu to a PDEA agent.
Ong and Lee reportedly entered the country as missionaries of a religious group called Lian Ho San Tan Temple Inc. and have been under PDEA surveillance for their illegal drug trafficking activities.
Gutierrez said the drug syndicate they allegedly belong to operates in
Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Central Luzon and Calabarzon region.
Intelligence reports, Gutierrez said, also revealed that the Chua-Li Drug Group used to operate two shabu laboratories dismantled by PDEA two years ago.
From 2009, a total of 17 members of Chua-Li Drug Group have been arrested, including Ong and Lee.
They are presently under the custody of PDEA and are facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) in relation to Section 26 (b) (Conspiracy to sell), Article II, Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.