SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union October 21 – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has provided a list indicating possible presence of clandestine laboratory in the manufacture of illegal drugs in your community.
The signs include presence of large water tanks; thick electrical wires for houses or facilities which shouldhave normal-sized wires; laboratory materials surrounding the properties like emptychemical bottles, drums and other types of chemical containers; specially-constructed chimney or ventilation fan which run forextended hours to get rid of strong odors; strong chemical odors (solvent-like) coming from the facility; persons in the premises seldom come out but they do come out tosmoke, to avoid igniting highly explosive chemicals inside; excessive or irregular water waste coming out of the premises; presence of waste chemicals; discarded materials used to store chemicals; residents who burn their trash instead of discarding them; use of security cameras; odd locks and bars on windows heavy security like the presence of watch dogs, high fences and barb wires; every opening of the facility is covered or tinted; persons going about their business at odd hours; no traffic during daytime, but traffic at wee hours; and frequent visitors with motor vehicles and PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña said the list aims to promote public interest, raise awareness of the risks and dangers of illegal drug as the agency seeks ferreting out these facilities.
PDEA encourages the citizenry to report suspected illegal drug
activities and presence of a clandestine laboratory in their community to their nearest PDEA regional offices or text PDEA 24/7 SMS/Text Center’s numbers: For SMART subscribers,
09998887332. Globe and Sun Cellular subscribers may use the number
09279150616 and 09255737332, respectively, or by calling mobile number
09393960627 and landline numbers (02) 920-0735 and (02) 920-0736.
By Bismarck Bengwayan