Man, 33, charged over steroid lab uncovered at Woodcroft home

Police say the clandestine drug lab was uncovered after a series of suspicious packages were intercepted in the mail.

Police have charged a 33-year-old man (centre) after a clandestine steroid lab was allegedly uncovered in the kitchen of a Woodcroft home. Pictures: NSW Police

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A 33-year-old man will face court today after a clandestine steroid lab was uncovered at a Woodcroft home.

Detectives raided the home at about 9am on Wednesday, allegedly uncovering the steroid manufacturing lab after a months’ long investigation by NSW Police and Australian Border Force.

HAZMAT crews were called in to render the kitchen drug lab safe before police officers could dismantle it. Picture: NSW Police

Police allege the man came under notice after a cargo consignment delivered to Sydney from China in October 2018 was found to contain a vacuum filtration kit used in drug manufacturing and branded labels for performance enhancing drugs.

Last month, Border Force intercepted another package which contained a manual capsule filling and joining machine.

Days later, a third package was found to contain about 1kg of illicit steroids concealed within food packaging.

HAZMAT crews were called in to make the makeshift kitchen lab safe before specialist officers could dismantle it.

Police allege a string of packages containing drugs and drug manufacturing tools were intercepted in the investigation. Picture: NSW Police

The man has been refused bail and is expected to face Blacktown Local Court today on a string of charges, including manufacturing a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, commercial drug supply and possessing drug manufacturing equipment in the use of prohibited drugs.

Blacktown Police Area Command’s Detective Superintendent Trent King said investigation demonstrated the strong links between NSW Police and Australian Border Force.

“This joint investigation has prevented the potential manufacture and distribution of illicit substances throughout our local community and beyond,” Det Supt King said.

Branded labels for performance enhancing drugs allegedly found in the mail as part of the investigation. Picture: NSW Police

“Our strong working relationships will navigate any detection at the border to ensure we continue to disrupt crime and investigate those involved in criminal activity, in turn, making our streets safer”.

ABF Regional Investigations Superintendent Garry Low said it was another example of the success of the ABF’s multi-layered approach to detecting illicit substances at the border.

“Our officers continue to demonstrate their skills and expertise when it comes to identifying mail and cargo packages that are out of the ordinary. This detection came about because of their diligence and hard work in screening items coming through the border,” Supt Low said.

A 33-year-old man is expected to face Blacktown Local Court today after Wednesday’s raid in Woodcroft. Picture: NSW Police

“Their skills, coupled with the hard work of our intelligence teams and investigators and our close working relationships with our law enforcement partners, mean we are continuing to seize these items and disrupt those intent on breaking the law and facilitating their importation.”

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