DAVAO CITY -- Combined police and military troops have arrested a Chinese national and three Filipinos during a raid on a suspected shabu laboratory in Cotabato City Thursday, the police said.

Police identified the arrested Chinese national as Peter Chao, believed to be a supplier of shabu in Mindanao region. His three Filipino companions were not named.

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The four are part of an international drug syndicate operating in Central Mindanao, the police said.

The raiding teams from the Cotabato City police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) found chemicals and other equipments used in making shabu at a laboratory on Mother Barangay Rosary Heights around 12:20 p.m. on Thursday.

Cotabato City Police Director Senior Supt. Willie Dangane said the laboratory could produce at least three kilos of shabu in one day.

Pdea-Armm Regional Director Maldan Mocaram said they have been shadowing the suspects and had difficulty arresting them since they kept transferring residences.

The suspects are presently under interrogation at the Pdea office and the Cotabato City Police Office.

Pdea Director General Dionesio Santiago is scheduled to visit Cotabato City Friday to present the suspects and the equipment found inside the laboratory to members of the media.

Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Tugis, Cotabato City police, 36 military intelligence agents, and the Army's 603rd Brigade led by Colonel Ernesto Aradanas were also part of the successful drug operation. (Edgardo Fuerzas/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)