SA Police reveal locations of methamphetamine drug labs busted in 2020 and 2021

New “super” drug labs have emerged across South Australia as organised crime networks grow. See all the busts police have made so far.

Homeowners lured by “straight out greed” are joining forces with organised crime syndicates and turning their suburban properties into meth labs.

Alarming new figures show almost one clandestine lab a week is being uncovered by South Australia police.

Forty two of the labs were found in Adelaide in the 2020-21 financial year, with others in Goolwa, Strathalbyn, Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend and Gawler – often right under the noses of unsuspecting neighbours.

The size of the labs varied, from large scale manufacture to small operations.

“We have seen large scale super laboratories in this state operating within suburbs … Generally linked to organised crime given the finances required to establish the laboratories and the established networks required to traffic the substances either in this state or on a national basis,” Superintendent Denise Gray, OIC Serious and Organised Crime Branch.

One lab was allegedly found at Wingfield in April last year, where two kg of methamphetamine, about 2L of methamphetamine oil, and 100kg of tile glue laced with methamphetamine that could be turned back into the drug, were discovered at a property.

Supt Gray said the discovery of the labs showed “organised crime syndicates are made up or people from everyday walks of life, some who live in suburban Adelaide”.

She said people are lured into drug manufacturing for a host of reasons ranging from “straight out greed to extortion or debts owed”.

“Large scale production, manufacture and trafficking of drugs typically support the illegal activities of organised crime – which in turn supports their lifestyle,” Supt Gray said.

Detective Chief Inspector Darren Fielke speaks to media about a 50kg methamphetamine seizure. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Methamphetamine is being sold to make huge profits for organised crime.

She said most organised crime syndicates in South Australia are linked to interstate and international syndicates.

“This is why it is crucial to work collaboratively with the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and interstate and overseas jurisdictions to identify disrupt, disable and ultimately dismantle organised crime syndicates,” she said.

Operation Ironside, where police used an encrypted app AN0M to crack open crime syndicates around the world, was one example of that, Supt Gray said.

Her message to South Australians was everyone had a role to play in stamping out drug dealing.

Methamphetamine use destroys families and fuels crime, SA Police say.

“I would stress that many individuals may think they can manage casual drug use. Not only does casual drug use support those who seek to make profit from harming the community, casual drug use may spiral out of control, rendering the person addicted.

“It can’t be underestimated the harm that drugs do to our community. Those people who are involved in the drug trade do so with no care of respect for the damage they do and the people they hurt. There is no excuse,” she said.

News Corp revealed last year federal police fears Australia could be flooded with “cheap and nasty” methamphetamine from Afghanistan, where drug cooks are turning their attention to methamphetamine.

Drug syndicates are being lured to Australia by the booming methamphetamine trade, with use of the ephedra plant to make methamphetamine already being found in Australia, including in Adelaide.

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