PDEA arrests 7 Chinese nationals in Pampanga drug raid

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 3 operatives arrested seven Chinese nationals and a female suspect on Wednesday morning in a drug raid conducted at Barangay San Ildefonso in Magalang, Pampanga.

A report from GMA News' Jiggy Manicad on GMA News TV "Quick Response Team" showed PDEA operatives storming the suspected shabu laboratory located almost at the foot of Mount Arayat.

PDEA Director Emerson Margate said they surveyed the property for two months before they conducted the raid wherein they also nabbed a certain Alvin, who is allegedly the group leader.

He said the laboratory is considered to be conducting "medium scale" operations and can produce up to 50 kilos of shabu a week.

Margate added that the distribution area of the illegal drugs produced at the site is nationwide.

The report said the drug personalities established the shabu laboratory in the guise of a piggery, which is located near a police training center and drug rehabilitation facility.

Meanwhile, Barangay Chairman Marcial Alfaro said the shabu lab may have been only two months old.

"Nung binili nila existing na po na babuyan tapos binili nung mga Instik, mga 2014 nung nabili yun," he said.

Alfaro added that the residents near the property were surprised it was a shabu lab.

"Nagpagawa nga sila ng disposing areas sa kalsada. Pag nagdispose sila nakikita naman namin na maganda pagkaka-dispose. Lahat kami dito nabigla dahil di naman naming alam yung operasyon nila dun," Alfaro said. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BAP, GMA News