The National Bureau of Investigation-Anti-Illegal Drugs Division yesterday confirmed the arrest of five suspected manufacturers of synthetic drugs in a buy-bust operation in a condominium in Parañaque City Tuesday.
NBI-AIDD chief lawyer Joel Tovera identified two of the five suspects as “Gio” and “Marc.”
Tovera said that it was the first time they have seen a kitchen type laboratory in making the new psychoactive substances they seized last week.
He said they are have yet to determine if the suspects also manufacture MDMA methylene homolog, one of the two substances that reportedly matched the substance found in the bodies of the two victims in a Pasay City concert last May 21.
Seized during the operation were assorted and undetermined number of capsules of ecstasy, sachets of cocaine, marijuana, other tablets, and other drug paraphernalia, including a gas mask, pipes, and a bag of empty capsules which Tovera said are used by the arrested suspects to make synthetic drugs.
“Paano nila ipapaliwanag ito at saan naman nila gagamitin ito?” he said.
According to Senior Investigator Salvador Arteche Jr., the suspects were arrested after Gio sold a small medicine bottle of ecstasy from an NBI poseur-buyer.
As they were headed to the condominium of the suspects, a security guard called Marc and informed him of the presence of the agents, prompting them to shut the door and flush some of their contraband down the toilet.
The suspects will be charged for manufacturing illegal drugs, possession of equipment used in manufacturing illegal drugs, and sale of illegal drugs.
Tovera said that the operation stemmed from the information relayed by a politician.
He said that the politician texted one of their agents that his son and classmates were victims of the syndicate that circulated drugs in the concert in a popular mall.
According to Arteche, the politician’s son positively identified Gio and Marc as the people who sold them drugs during the concert. He added that the politician has yet to send an email which elaborates his son’s experience during the concert. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)