Tallawong: Three men charged after MDMA drug lab uncovered

Three men will remain behind bars on remand after police uncovered an MDMA lab in Sydney’s northwest as part of investigations into Asian crime gang members allegedly running drugs and weapons into the community. Watch the video.

Three men facing multiple charges relating to the discovery of a clandestine MDMA lab in Sydney’s northwest will remain behind bars on remand.

Kaigang Chen, 29, Yangwei Chen, 40, and Zhitao Zheng, 22, were arrested at a Lidcombe unit during a police raid conducted by detectives under Strike Force Coorabel – aimed at investigating the alleged manufacture and supply of drugs and weapons by an Asian crime syndicate.

The men were expected to face Lidcombe Local Court on Friday, but none of them applied for bail.

Police were led to the trio after a search of a Tallawong home just before 7am on Thursday, where they discovered a clandestine MDMA lab.

Officers seized around two kilos of MDMA as well as chemicals and equipment used in the making of the drug.

Three men will face court after police uncovered an MDMA lab in Tallawong. Picture: NSW Police

Police say the drugs have an estimated street value of $150,000.

Specialist police and NSW Fire and Rescue were also called to the scene to dismantle the lab.

A number of drugs were seized. Picture: NSW Police

Police then searched the Lidcombe unit, where they arrested the trio and seized a number of mobile phones, an array of small quantities of drugs and 720g of ketamine with an estimated street value of $100,000.

Police remained at the scene of a third location in Ashfield on Friday morning, after a search commenced about 8.30pm the night before.

Yangwei Chen was charged with participating in a criminal group by contributing to criminal activity, organising, conducting, assisting with drug premises, being found on drug premises and two counts of supplying a prohibited drug.

Zhitao Zheng was charged with manufacturing a drug more than the indictable quantity, two counts of organising, conducting, assisting with drug premises, hindering or resisting arrest and four counts of supplying drugs.

The men are expected to face Burwood Local Court on Friday. Picture: NSW Police

Kaigang Chen was charged with organising, conducting, assisting with drug premises, take parts of supplying drugs, being found on drug premises and two counts of supplying a prohibited drug.

A detention application – which asks a person be returned to a correctional centre after previously being released – was also sought for the younger Chen on earlier charges of supplying a commercial quantity of drugs and driving unlicensed.

He is expected to face the Parramatta District Court for bail review on those charges on June 12.

The trio were remanded in custody and are next expected to face Burwood Local Court on June 13.