Kirrawee: Two men charged with commercial drug supply after $12m worth of ‘ice’ seized

Two men will remain in custody on remand after a clandestine drug lab was been dismantled and an estimated $12m worth of the drug ‘ice’ seized following a police raid in Sydney’s south.

Two men have been charged with drug supply after about $12m worth of ‘ice’ was seized. Picture: NSW Police

Two men have been refused bail after they were charged with manufacturing and supplying $12m worth of ‘ice’ found in a clandestine laboratory at Kirrawee.

Tsz Pang Lee, 24, and Yat Skek Ng, 29, did not apply for bail in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

The men are each facing charges of manufacturing more than an indictable quantity of prohibited drug and three counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.

Strike Force Maimura, established by detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad, was launched to investigate the large commercial supply of prohibited drugs.

Detectives, with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad, executed a search warrant at a property on the Princes Highway, Kirrawee about 6.20pm on Tuesday.

Organised Crime Squad detectives under Strike Force Maimura stated to investigate the large commercial supply of prohibited drugs. Picture: NSW Police

Lee and Ng allegedly fled the scene on foot before they were arrested hiding under objects in the yard and taken to Sutherland police station.

It is understood there was allegedly a sophisticated clandestine laboratory in one of the bedrooms complete with two heat sources and glassware on top of each, which still had liquid residue inside when police arrived.

Specialist officers from the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Unit, Forensic Evidence and Technical Service, Technical and Forensic Support Unit and Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT team were called in to process and dismantle the lab. Picture: NSW Police

During the search, police allegedly located four large sports bags containing about 30kg of methylamphetamine powder in 29 resealable bags.

Police allegedly found 600g of crystal methylamphetamine in a fridge in the kitchen and 1500ml of liquid methylamphetamine in the process of crystallisation.

Police estimate the drugs have a street value of about $12m.

It is understood Lee is a Hong Kong national on a visa in Australia after he flew into Sydney from Thailand on June 1, with no return flight booked; and both men speak little to no English.

Specialist officers from the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Unit, Forensic Evidence and Technical Service, Technical and Forensic Support Unit and Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT team were called in to process and dismantle the lab.

The case was adjourned to August 10 at Sydney Downing Centre.