A Filipino-Canadian arrested in the drug bust at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila.

By Jaime R Pilapil /Manila Times

Agents of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday raided two condominiums at the upscale Bonifacio Global City, popularly known as The Fort, in Taguig City and found secret laboratories that process shabu (drug) smuggled from Mexico

The NBI said P100mn worth of shabu, ecstasy and cocaine were seized from units at The Luxe Residences and One Serendra during the raid.

Two Canadians and a Filipino were arrested by the NBI agents.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima identified the Canadians as James Ruach and Barry Espadilla, who face a string of criminal charges in Canada, and the Filipino as Tristan Olazo.

The raids confirmed stories published by Manila Times that Chinese, Mexican and African syndicates are competing to dominate the drugs market in the country.

The Manila Times had reported that the Mexican drug cartel Sinaloa had struck an alliance with Chinese traffickers who see a looming turf war with the Africans.

An agent, who asked not to be identified, said shabu, cocaine and ecstasy from the labs in the condominium are eventually sold in night clubs and bars in The Fort.

“The lesser the mobility, the better. This prompted the syndicates to put up a laboratory near the intended outlets like the bars in Bonifacio Global City and the adjoining cities,” the agent told the daily.

The NBI made its move on Tuesday night, when its agents arrested Thank God Agu, allegedly a member of the African syndicate, in Las Pinas City.

A search of Agu’s car yielded 137 grams of shabu with a street value of P400,000, the NBI said.

De Lima said the suspects in the condominium busts were members of the Sinaloa.

NBI Officer-in-Charge Medardo de Lemos said his agents found in the condominium units, ingredients used for making illegal drugs.

Equipment and utensils like heaters, sealers and weighing scales were also found.

Last Christmas Day, a government counter-narcotics team discovered a big stash of shabu in a game fowl farm in Lipa City, believed to have been shipped in by the Sinaloa.

A source also mentioned a Canadian-Mexican connection known as “Independent Soldier” that also employs Iranians and other nationalities.

Following the discovery of the shabu labs, the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) called on the owners and administrators of buildings and condominiums to strictly screen prospective tenants.

Chief Insp. Roque Merdeguia, AID-SOTF spokesman, said owners and administrators of condominiums and subdivisions should do a thorough background check on individuals renting or buying units from them.

The same appeal was made by Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano yesterday.

“More than providing a safe haven for the business community to flourish in our beloved city, it is also important in securing our residents against syndicates that prey on the
innocent,” Cayetano said.