By DHEL NAZARIO
FOUR Hong Kong nationals beÂlieved to be members of an inÂternational drug syndicate were arrested while about Php544 million worth of shabu was confiscated Tuesday night by operatives of the Pasay City Police and the PhilÂippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a raid on a condoÂminium unit being used as a drug laboratory.
On the strength of a search warÂrant issued by Manila Regional TriÂal Court Branch 52 Judge Thelma Bunyi Medina, authorities raided Unit 16-G on 16th floor of Tower 2 Ocean Air at Sunrise Drive corner Pacific Drive in Pasay at 7:30 p.m.
PDEA identified the arrested susÂpects as Lam King Wah, 35; Wong Ka Lok, 38; Lam Wing Bun, 52; and Lam Ming Sun, 56, alleged memÂbers of an international drug synÂdicate.
Bun and Sun are chemists, acÂcording to operatives.
Investigation showed that prior to the implementation of the search warrant, Pasay City police received a telephone call from PDEA agent Joel Villorente requesting police asÂsistance.
During the operation, PDEA agents recovered more or less 70 kilos of shabu ready for disposal and approximately 10 kilos of liqÂuid shabu with an estimated street value of Php544 million.
They also recovered equipment used in manufacturing shabu.
The operation was led by PDEA Director Aaron Aquino and was witnessed by village councilmen of Barangay 76.
Pasay City Mayor Antonino CalÂixto as well as Vice Mayor Noel del Rosario and Pasay City Police Chief Senior Supt. Noel Flores arrived at the area for the presentation of the result of the operation.
Aquino said that the shabu laboÂratory they dismantled was set up by the suspects who are allegÂedly connected to the Hong Kong based-14K or Hong Kong Triad drug syndicate. (with a report from Alexandria San Juan)