SA Police dismantle huge Morphett Vale drug lab belonging to criminal syndicate
A drug lab found at Morphett Vale is one of the biggest SA Police have seen. Detectives on Thursday began the huge task of dismantling the high-level methamphetamine operation.
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A southern suburbs drug lab capable of producing 120kg of methamphetamine a week belongs to a sophisticated criminal syndicate with links across Australia and possibly overseas.
About $4 million worth of methamphetamine oil – awaiting the final stage of production to be crystallised – was uncovered in a clandestine drug laboratory on Cocks Avenue, Morphett Vale, about 10pm on Tuesday.
Detective Superintendent Stephen Taylor, officer in charge of Serious and Organised Crime Branch, described the lab as “one of the biggest we’ve seen for many years”.
He said 10 litres of high-grade methamphetamine oil seized at the property could have been cooked to produce at least 10kg of ice with potent purity.
“This is most certainly not a backyard (cook house),” he said.
“This is a high-level syndicate. This particular lab would have a yield value of close to 120kg per week.
“This would equate to about 90,000 street doses … We’re very pleased to stop that.”
A 42-year-old man living at the home was arrested and charged with manufacturing a controlled drug, and trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The bust led police to locations at Waterloo Corner, Rosewater and Kilkenny. Australian Federal Police and STAR Group officers assisted in the raids on Tuesday night.
Drug paraphernalia was seized but no one was arrested.
On Wednesday, a storage shed at Panorama was searched.
“(Police) found a large quantity of clandestine drug laboratory equipment. It’s large scale and commercial in size,” Mr Taylor said.
A short time later, detectives raided a Clovelly Park home and arrested a 22-year-old man. He was charged with possessing prescribed equipment.
Officers also searched a Mitchell Park home and allegedly found drugs and prescription medication. Cash and drug paraphernalia was seized.
Two men – a 22-year-old and 20-year-old – were arrested. The older man was charged with four counts of trafficking a controlled drug and one count of supplying prescription drug to another person.
The younger man was charged with trafficking a controlled drug. Both were bailed to appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court in November.
A home at Lockleys and a large Riverland property at Cadell was also searched.
Mr Taylor said the Cocks Avenue lab would have taken months to organise before it became operational. Police expect to dismantle the set-up by Sunday.
The man arrested at the home was refused bail and appeared at Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The search at Cadell is expected to last until Friday afternoon.
