Photo courtesy of PDEA.
Authorities uncovered a large illegal methamphetamine laboratory in Valenzuela City, seizing drugs and chemicals valued at roughly Php 6.6 billion, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Wednesday.
PDEA said its operatives, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), carried out a buy-bust operation at an industrial area in Barangay Veinte Reales on February 22.
A 30-year-old suspect known as “JP” was arrested early in the morning after allegedly selling 500 grams of suspected shabu worth Php 3.4 million to an undercover officer.
The transaction led authorities to a nearby warehouse that had been under surveillance after earlier anti-drug operations.
A raid of the facility produced 906.41 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at over Php 6 billion and 64.15 liters of liquid methamphetamine worth around P436 million.
Investigators also recovered chemical precursors, controlled substances, and laboratory tools believed to have been used in producing illegal drugs.
PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez described the seizure as one of the largest laboratory busts in recent years, preventing nearly one metric ton of meth from reaching communities in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
Authorities said investigations continue as they seek to identify other suspects connected to the operation.