Detectives from the Clandestine Laboratory squad have arrested five people and seized a significant quantity of drugs and related paraphernalia following a series of warrants across Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
Eight warrants were executed at residential and commercial properties in Wheelers Hill, Ferny Creek, Hillside, Ardeer, Tyabb (2), Clayton and Sunshine West at around 5am.
A 25-year-old Tyabb man, a 30-year-old Ardeer man and a 31-year-old Hillside man have all been charged with traffick large commercial quantity methylamphetamine and possess articles to manufacture.
A 41-year-old Wheelers Hill man was charged with traffick large commercial quantity methylamphetamine, possess articles to manufacture attempt to traffick large commercial quantity 1,4-Butanediol.
All four have been remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 2 November.
A 66-year-old Ferny Creek woman was also arrested but released pending further enquiries.
Police located an industrial sized clandestine laboratory at one of the Tyabb properties.
They subsequently seized a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine oil, a large commercial quantity of methyl alpha-phenyl acetoacetate (MAPA), a large quantity of as yet unidentified liquids, and an industrial sized decarboxylation reactor.
Police will allege that the industrial sized decarboxylation reactor has the capability to produce up to 100kg of methylamphetamine per cook.
Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal Link
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Nick Allwood, Clandestine Laboratory Squad:
‘These arrests are an excellent outcome for community safety – these are significant seizures from what is one of the most sophisticated clandestine laboratories we have seen in Victoria.
‘Drugs are a significant driver of crime and community harm across the state and are a strong focus for Victoria Police.
‘These arrests should serve as a sobering reminder to potential drug dealers that police will not sit idle when it comes to drug crime.
‘Be it at the border, on cargo in transit or here in Victoria – make no mistake, we will target you.
‘Illicit drug labs pose significant health and safety risks to the community and many of the chemicals involved in drug manufacture are highly volatile, explosive or carcinogenic in nature.
‘Residual contamination resulting from the manufacture of these illicit substances presents a serious risk to human and environmental health.’
