MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) urged the public anew to be watchful of signs indicating the presence of a clandestine shabu laboratory in their neighborhood.
PDEA made the statement following a series of dismantled laboratories used in manufacturing illegal drugs.
PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said that it is observed that drug personalities have also changed their schemes in producing illegal drugs, noting that they have transferred from the usual mountain and far flung communities to residential areas.
“This is evident in the two successive dismantling of shabu and ecstacy laboratories in Hingoso Farm, Barangay Sto. Niño, Ibaan, Batangas on April 12, 2018, and in the three-storey residence along Dela Cruz Street, Barangay Tinajeros, Malabon City on April 13, 2018,” Aquino said in a statement.
The discovery of the two illegal facilities in Batangas and Malabon was the result of the intelligence support provided by the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission (ONNCC), Narcotics Control Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, and the People’s Republic of China to PDEA.
Aquino said the following are the signs to look out for that a clandestine shabu laboratory is likely operating in the neighborhood:
-Sudden presence of individuals, either local or foreign nationals, in buildings or residence which are abandoned for a long period of time;
-Presence of large water tanks;
-Thick electrical wires for houses or facilities instead of normal-size wires:
-Laboratory materials surrounding the property like empty chemical bottles, drums and other kind of chemical containers;
-Specially-constructed chimney or ventilation fan which run for extended hours to remove strong odors;
-Strong chemical odors (solvent-like) coming from the facility;
-Persons in the premises seldom come-out, or they do come out to smoke to avoid igniting the chemicals inside;
-Excessive or irregular water waste coming out of the premises;
-Presence of waste chemicals;
-Discarded materials used to store chemicals;
-Residents who burn their trash instead of discarding them;
-Use of security cameras;
-Odd locks and bar windows;
-Heavy security like the presence of watch dogs, high fences and barbed wires;
-Every opening of the facility is covered or tinted;
-Persons going about their business at odd hours;
-No traffic during daytime, but on wee hours; and
-Frequent visitors with expensive cars.
He also said the agency is appealing to the public to report any suspicious movement of individuals and facilities in their neighborhood through “Operation Private Eye” with contact number (02) 920-0967, andv via e-mail at [email protected].
“The public can report illegal drug activities, and in return, PDEA ensures the anonymity of the informant and the confidentiality of the information provided to counter fear, which hinders the active participation of the citizenry in reporting. The informants are given reward and incentive scheme designed to encourage the public to report illegal drugs activities in their community”, Aquino noted. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
