A man has been charged and $5.2 million worth of prohibited drugs seized after police dismantled a large-scale clandestine laboratory in Sydney’s south-west, NSW Police say.
In December 2016, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad established Strike Force Lovelle to investigate the manufacture of prohibited drugs across NSW.
As a result of their inquiries, detectives executed a crime scene warrant at a home in Carrolls Road, Menangle, over an alleged clandestine laboratory in May 2018.
Police seized 200 items, including 1.4kg of prohibited drugs and equipment used to manufacture drugs.
Following further inquiries, strike force investigators executed a search warrant at a rural property in Calf Farm Road at Mt Hunter, about 7km west of Camden, on Wednesday 24 October 2018.
Over the next four days, officers from the Drugs and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Unit forensically processed the scene and seized more than 450 items.
Items seized include more than 21kg of MDMA powder and pills, 28L of GHB, 13.5kg of precursors, an amount of substances believed to be cocaine, steroids and methylamphetamine, ammunition, and equipment used to manufacture prohibited drugs.
These prohibited drug seizures have an estimated potential street value of $5.2 million.
Detectives are investigating links between the two properties.
A 39-year-old man was arrested after leaving Campbelltown Hospital last Thursday (25and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
He was charged with large commercial drug manufacture, large commercial drug supply, possess prohibited drug, possess drug manufacture apparatus make prohibited drug, possess tablet press or drug encapsulator, and possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority.
The man appeared at Campbelltown Local Court on Friday 26 October 2018 where he was formally refused bail. His next court appearance is before the same court on Wednesday 19 December 2018.
State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said there had been a 47 per cent increase in clandestine laboratories being located and dismantled over the last financial year.
"After dismantling one of the biggest clandestine laboratories in recent times, those involved in the manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs should know that the net is closing in on them," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
"There is no quality control in illicit substances and the community should be aware that there is no way of knowing what you are ingesting and how it will affect you.
"We will continue to dismantle and disrupt these criminal drug enterprises and stop this poison from hitting our streets."
Investigations under Strike Force Lovelle continue.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Lovelle investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
