Anti-narcotics agents capture 3 drug pushers in Zamboanga raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 18, 2009) – Philippine anti-narcotics agents clashed with suspected drug pushers and wounded one of them during a raid at a village in the southern port city of Zamboanga City on Tuesday, reports said.

The ABS-CBN television said members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested the trio - Farouk Samla, Abu Pandang and Sal Sali – in the village of Recodo.

It quoted Adzhar Albani, regional chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, as saying that Samla is included in the most wanted list.

Albani said they seized several sacks of drug paraphernalia and plastic sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or locally known as shabu.

Last year, anti-narcotics agents, backed by policemen, also raided a suspected shabu laboratory on a remote village in Zamboanga City.

Police said the laboratory was being operated by a Taiwanese man and his Filipino cohorts in the village of Lamisahan. It was the first time that authorities have discovered a shabu laboratory in Zamboanga.

Shabu is a clear, chunky form of crystals resembling ice and is sometimes referred to as "crystal" or glass" by drug users.

The drug releases high levels of stimulant dopamine that works on brain cells to activate body movement and elevate moods. When used regularly it has a neurological toxic effect and can damage brain cells.

Police said obnoxious smell from the laboratory and the contaminated water from a creek nearby gave away the illegal operation. (Mindanao Examiner)

Commuter bus yields illegal drugs in the southern Philippines

DIGOS CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 28, 2009) – Police arrested a commuter bus driver on Saturday after an inspection in the vehicle yielded illegal drugs in the southern Philippines.

Police did not identify the driver, but he was arrested in Digos City after lawmen inspected the bus for contraband and illegal weapons. Police recovered an envelope containing methamphetamine hydrochloride crystal or locally known as shabu.

The driver denied it was his and said the packet came from an unidentified person from Cotabato and that somebody would pick it up. Police said it is investigating the allegation of the driver.

Methamphetamine hydrochloride is a powerful, synthetic stimulant drug. It is more powerful than other forms of amphetamine. It is more pure than the powder form of methamphetamine. (Geonarri Solmerano)

Police Raid Zamboanga City Shabu Lab

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2008) - Anti-narcotics agents, backed by policemen, raided a suspected shabu laboratory on a remote village in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, but no arrest was made.

Police said it was tracking down a Taiwanese man and his Filipino cohort who allegedly operate the laboratory in the village of Lamisahan. It was the first time that authorities have discovered a shabu laboratory in Zamboanga.

Shabu which is also known as methamphetamine hydrochloride is a clear, chunky form of crystals resembling ice and is sometimes referred to as "crystal" or glass" by drug users.

The drug releases high levels of stimulant dopamine that works on brain cells to activate body movement and elevate moods. When used regularly it has a neurological toxic effect and can damage brain cells.

Policemen raided the laboratory late Friday afternoon after villagers complained of obnoxious smell coming out from a compound thought by locals as a tire recapping factory. The compound was empty, police said.

"We have recovered plastic containers with chemicals believed used in manufacturing shabu, including a hydrogenation apparatus" one policeman said.

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat also inspected the site and ordered police to investigate who was behind the illegal drug laboratory.

Superintendent Manuel Barcena, the city police chief, said the obnoxious smell from the laboratory and the contaminated water from a creek nearby gave away the illegal operation. "There was this report about that bad smell coming from the area and also the water from the creek smelled differently and that led to the discovery of the laboratory," he said. (Mindanao Examiner)