Walker Flat meth lab: Three charged over SA’s largest drug lab
THREE men have been charged after a year-long investigation into the largest illicit drug laboratory found in South Australia.
THREE men have been charged after a year-long investigation into the largest illicit drug laboratory found in South Australia.
The men have been charged over a drug haul found at Walker Flat, in SA’s Murraylands, in February last year that included more than 190,000 ecstasy pills, a commercial pill press and precursor chemicals capable of making almost $50 million worth of methamphetamine.
Detectives made the arrests and seized evidence during the search of five properties this morning.
Two of the men were charged over the discovery last year but those charges were later dropped.
Further investigations and analysis led to the charges being relaid against the two men and the arrest of a third man.
An Eastwood man, 32, a Woodville man, 29, and a Brompton man, 27, were each charged with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs, trafficking in commercial quantities of controlled drugs and participating in a criminal organisation.
They are expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court this afternoon.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch Detective Superintendent Graham Goodwin said the investigation had been the largest of its type in terms of forensic analysis conducted by Forensic Science SA, using the latest DNA technology.
“There were well over 1000 chemical tests performed and over 400 exhibits examined for traces of DNA,” he said.
“Of the three people, two were previously charged and had the charges withdrawn for various reasons but I’m happy to say that as a result of those further investigations those charges have been relaid.”
Det-Supt Goodwin said investigations into the matter were difficult, however a significant drug ring had been severely disrupted.
“This is very extensive, this is a very large operation,” he said.
“We would say that other people knew exactly what was going on there and we would ask those people to come forward.”
Det-Supt Goodwin would not say whether the charged men were members of an outlaw motorcycle gang of if they had previously been known to police.
A search of the Walker Flat laboratory last year uncovered:
A LARGE commercial electronic pill press with an assortment of dies capable of producing about 12,000 ecstasy tablets per hour.
48KG of MDMA powder capable of producing 210,000 ecstasy tablets.
MORE than 190,000 pressed MDMA pills, bagged in large quantities.
PRECURSOR chemicals capable of producing 48kg of street purity methylamphetamine with an estimated street value of $48 million.
A CACHE of firearms, including eight semiautomatic and bolt action rifles, magazines and associated ammunition.
The Woodville man has been further charged with serious firearms offences.