A man has been charged and $5.2 million worth of prohibited drugs seized after police dismantled a large-scale drug lab in Macarthur – the second in two years.
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 in May of this year.
Police seized 200 items, including 1.4kg of prohibited drugs and equipment used to manufacture drugs.
Following further inquiries, last week strike force investigators executed a search warrant at a rural property in Calf Farm Road at Mt Hunter.
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.
He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station and 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 last Friday, where he was formally refused bail. His next court appearance is before the same court on December 19.
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,” he 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.”
Police will address the media later this morning.
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A man has been arrested after a bakery was robbed at Mount Annan overnight.
A second man involved in the robbery is still on the run from police.
Officers from Camden Police Area Command were called about 7pm last night following the robbery.
Police were told two unarmed men entered the business, one of them distracted staff, while the other man went behind the counter and allegedly stole a sum of cash and ran from the scene.
PolAir were called to assist with the search for the men.
Police arrested a 33-year-old man, in the backyard of a home nearby.
He was taken to Narellan Police Station to assist with inquiries.
Nailed it:
“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”
Which is why drug related crime and illness is so low in Amsterdam.
Australia records that number at 75 drug related deaths PA per million.
Holland the rate is 16 deaths per million.
Who’s winning the “war on drugs?”