Agents of the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) serving a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) for three vessels in a compound in Cagayan province stumbled upon a laboratory used in the manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, and explosives.
The laboratory was discovered when BOC agents on May 18 went to the Hua-Xia Compound in Barangay Tallungan, Aparri, Cagayan to serve a WSD for three vessels allegedly involved in the illegal quarrying of black sand. The laboratory was located in a chemical warehouse inside the compound owned by one Michael Tan, a certain Lito Lim, and two other unnamed persons.
A search warrant issued by Judge Oscar Zaldivar of Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Aparri also enabled BOC’s Special Studies and Project Development Committee, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, and Enforcement Security Service to examine the chemicals inside the warehouse.
The operatives were assisted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office II.
Several glass containers bearing controlled chemicals that are used to manufacture illegal drugs and explosives and have an estimated value of P600,000 were turned over to the PDEA and the Philippine National Police.
No arrests were made as the warehouse owners were not around during the raid.
