A PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-led anti-narcotics operation inside the posh Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City early morning Friday led to the dismantling of a suspected mini-shabu laboratory and the seizure of some 22 kilograms of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” valued at nearly P150 million, PDEA Officer-in-Charge, Undersecretary Gregorio R. Pimentel said.

The official said that arrested during the two separate raids were one Canadian, a French national and a Filipino businessman.

“This group used a modified setup for manufacturing shabu. The shabu is mixed in liquid form, then washed with acetone. It’s practically an odorless process, which is probably why they were confident in doing it here in a residential area,” said Pimentel who personally led the operation.

The PDEA-led force served two search warrants: one warrant served at No. 304 Mabolo Street in Ayala Alabang Village, and another served at 523 Madrigal Avenue in Ayala Alabang.

Concealed inside the house at No. 304 Mabolo Street was an assortment of laboratory equipment, several quantities of CPECs or chemicals used for manufacturing illegal drugs such as shabu, as well as 20 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P136 million pesos.

Authorities arrested two individuals found in the target address: Aurelien Cythere, a 41-year-old Frenchman and unemployed divorcee, and Mark Anthony Sarayot y Ravelo, a 42-year-old Filipino businessman residing at 23 Cabbage Street, Valle Verde 5 in Bgy. Ugong, Pasig City.

Several identification cards, three mobile phones and an assortment of financial documents were seized from the suspects.

The second target at 523 Madrigal Avenue, Ayala Alabang yielded 2 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million and various laboratory equipment, identification cards and five mobile phones.

The operating team also arrested Ariana Golesorkhi, alias “Kano,” a 33-year-old male Canadian who was born in Iran and claims to run a beauty parlor.

“These suspects are linked to Mexican, Australian and Canadian drug trafficking groups. We are currently investigating these links and several other drug personalities,” said Pimentel.

Pimentel, the PDEA deputy director general for operations, supervised the raid conducted by officers from the PDEA National Capital Region Office, its Special Enforcement Service and the PDEA Regional Offices 1 and 2, with the assistance of the Bureau of Customs, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Southern Police District.

The PDEA OIC said they conducted the raid on the strength of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, issued by a local court.

The suspects, who are now being held at the PDEA national headquarters in Quezon City, will be facing charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs and violation of Section 8 of RA 9165, or the manufacture of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals, which carries the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million upon conviction.

The law states that the presence of any controlled precursor and essential chemical or laboratory equipment in a clandestine laboratory is a prima facie proof of manufacture of any dangerous drug. It shall be considered an aggravating circumstance if the clandestine laboratory is undertaken or established within 100 meters of a residential, business, church or school premises.

The maximum penalty provided under Section 8 of RA 9165 also states that the maximum penalty shall be imposed upon any person who organizes, manages or acts as a “financier” of any of the illegal activities.