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AUSTRALASIAN
BIKER NEWS
Amphetamine lab
shut down: police
Bikie link to major drug raid
By CHLOE BUGELLY
• A police officer carries a flask containing liquid. Pictures: MATTHEW
SMITHWICK
• Two rotary pill presses are taken away after the raid.CHEMICALS volatile
enough to cause a major explosion were discovered in a major drug bust at a
Wodonga home, police said yesterday.
Police described the raid as one of
the biggest in the region.
Detectives, including officers from
squads based in Melbourne, searched a Carkeek St property on Tuesday and
discovered a sophisticated laboratory with highly flammable chemicals which
can be used to manufacture amphetamine.
Police said searches of two nearby
properties linked to the ring found guns, cannabis and a large amount of
cash.
Det-Sgt David Bartlett, of the
Melbourne Crime Department, said the people involved were believed to be
associated with a motorcycle gang.
“For a region of this size it is
definitely one of the biggest drug busts,” he said.
“These chemicals are toxic and capable
enough to cause a major explosion to the environment and surrounding
premises if they end up in the wrong hands.”
The drug bust was the culmination of a
six-month co-ordinated investigation which involved Wodonga detectives and
two Melbourne units, the clandestine laboratory squad and the tasked
operations 500 unit.
Det-Sgt Bartlett said the bust would
have a big impact on the availability of drugs in the region.
“This drug syndicate had strong
contact with people based in Melbourne,” Det-Sgt Bartlett said.
“We hope this will break the link
between people in Melbourne and those associated with chemicals and drugs in
the region.
“We’re confident this will reduce the
flow of drugs in the region and reduce the impacts of drugs on the
community.”
A neighbour said he was shocked that
such a laboratory was operating just doors from where he lives.
“It’s extremely daunting for everyone
in the street, particularly my neighbour who has two young kids,” he said.
“I hate to think of what could have
happened if this stuff was not found.”
Two police officers guarded the crime
scene on Tuesday night.
Forensic scientists spent yesterday
removing the sophisticated chemical set-up, including flasks, chemical vats
and pill pressing machines, for further examination.
The owner of the property, 60, and two
men aged 30 and 46 were charged with drug and firearm-related offences.
The owner will appear in Wodonga Court
today.
The other two men were bailed to
appear in court on January 16.
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