A secret drug lab in Park Ridge stocked with ice, guns and cash has led to five arrests.
Police discovered the commercial-scale lab, allegedly used to make drugs sold across Queensland and interstate, on Tuesday 22 October.
The Queensland Police Service and Australian Border Force actioned a search warrant at the home and located two kilograms of crystallised methylamphetamines (‘ice’), five litres of methylamphetamine oil, a semi-automatic rifle, two handguns, and a “significant sum of cash”.
“Based on the items and chemicals located, it will be alleged the lab was used to produce commercial quantities of methylamphetamine and had the capacity to produce multiple kilogram batches at a time,” police said in a statement.
“It is alleged the group was involved in coordinating the production and distribution of illegal drugs in Queensland and interstate.”
Specialist officers from the Synthetic Drug Operations Unit (SDOU) attended the property to “safely process the site and dismantle the lab”, as seen in the below video.
Police claim a second search warrant at a Rocklea business also uncovered a number of items of interest, including cash, a cash counting machine and ammunition.
A 31-year-old Park Ridge man and a 31-year-old Park Ridge woman have been charged with several offences ranging from the production and possession of drugs to the possession of a weapon.
A 32-year-old South Ripley man, a 42-year-old Doolandella man and 32-year-old Inala man have also been slapped with a variety of charges.
Drug and Serious Crime Group Detective Inspector Bradley Phelps said dedicated State Drug Squad detectives worked closely with partner agencies, including the ABF and interstate police, to “target these organised syndicates”.
“A clandestine lab of this scale can produce significant quantities of methylamphetamine which has the potential to cause untold community harm,” Detective Inspector Phelps said.
“Our officers will continue to do everything they can to detect and disrupt this kind of offending.”
Investigations are ongoing.
