Shabu Ship Photographed in Subic Bay 40 days before seizure (SBN exclusive)
SUBIC, Zambales – A 16-year-old college student, unaware of what was going on inside his subject, was able to photograph a Chinese fishing vessel over a month before authorities were able to seize it. The 50-meter long ship turned out to be a floating shabu laboratory and drugs transporter.
“June 5 po nung nagpunta po ako sa Cawag, nagkataon pong dala ko po yung camera… kinuhanan ko po iyong barko,” (When I went to Cawag on June 5, I happened to have my camera with me… I then took pictures of the ship) Wayne B. Eda told Subic Bay News in an exclusive interview.
Eda said he was merely visiting an aunt in Bgy. Cawag, this town, when the ship, anchored off the coastline, caught his attention.
On July 11 or some 40 days later, authorities found the ship in another location, off the coast of Bgy. Calapandayan, also in Subic town, where it was seized and its crew of four (4) Chinese nationals were arrested.
Around half a kilo of the extremely addictive banned substance Metampetamine or shabu worth over P2 M, was recovered from the ship.
The Chinese vessel, according to investigators, bore indications of being a laboratory for the production of shabu, capable of producing 25 to 50 kgs. a day.
PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa, along with Zambales PNP Chief Christopher Mateo, rushed to Subic town and boarded the vessel when the arrests and seizure were made.
The arrested Chinese, identified as Lo Wing Fai, 42; Leung Shu Fook, 49; Kwok Kam Wah, 47; and Chan Kwok Tung, 29, were brought to Camp Crame, headquarters of the PNP, in Quezon City, where they were charged, accordingly.
According to Eda, the ship seemed deserted at the time he took the photographs.
The photo taken by Eda is proof that the Chinese vessel has been in Subic Bay no later June 5, 2016, most likely earlier, raising suspicions of possible collusion between the suspects and authorities.
Investigators are also looking into the connection of the suspects to the P2 B shabu bust in Sta. Monica Subdivision, also in Subic town, back in 2013.
In 2008, close to 800 kgs. of shabu estimated to be worth P4.5 B was seized from a Vietnam-registered Chinese ship, F/B Shun Fa Xing, which docked in the Subic Freeport. (VVV)
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