Manila  - Two Chinese men were arrested Thursday in a drug raid in a city just outside the Philippine capital, a regional police chief said.

The suspects were arrested at a hideout in Santa Rosa City in Laguna province, 55 kilometres south of Manila, police Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad said.

Police officers seized chemicals and paraphernalia used in manufacturing methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu, which is the most abused drug in the country, Palad said.

Investigators were preparing to file criminal charges against the suspects.

Anti-drug officials said the illegal drug trade in the Philippines rakes in an estimated 300 billion pesos (6.4 billion dollars) annually. (dpa)