Cops search for two men after suspected drug lab goes up in flames in Revesby

A suspected drug lab has gone up in flames in Sydney’s southwest after two men were spotted on the roof of the burning complex on Wednesday morning.

Raptor police at a crime scene in a business on the corner of Milperra Rd and Queen Street at Milperra. Picture: NSW Police

Two men believed to be part of an alleged serious organised criminal network are on the run, after allegedly making a “desperate and brazen” attempt to set fire to a drug lab in Sydney’s south - west.

The pair allegedly hid from police - who were already on guard at the established clandestine lab crime scene in Revesby, before entering the roof of the premises on Wednesday morning and lighting the industrial complex on fire.

The duo then allegedly fled the scene and are yet to be located by police who are treating the fire as “suspicious and deliberately lit.”

Raptor Squad Commander Andrew Koutsoufis said police on guard challenged one of the men, with the second man seen on the roof by attending NSW Fire and Rescue officers.

“We believe their intention was to destroy the crime scene,” Mr Koutsoufis said.

He confirmed there was minimal damage to the roof as a result of the fire and no evidence has been impacted.

Fire and Rescue NSW K9 unit arriving at crime scene in a business on the corner of Milperra Road and Queen Street at Milperra. Picture: Richard Dobson

Firefighters and detectives at crime scene in a business on the corner of Milperra Road and Queen Street at Milperra. Picture: Richard Dobson

Police also blocked off a nearby car wash as part of their investigation into the alleged drug lab and fire.

No-one at the car wash is accused of any wrongdoing.

“A secondary crime scene has been established where the alleged arsonists are believed to have accessed the roof of the industrial complex.

“We allege (the arsonists) secured themselves possibly overnight or in the previous day in an adjacent premises and come up through the roof.

“Inquiries are underway to identify and arrest those responsible.”

The alleged inactive drug lab was first discovered by Raptor Squad officers on Monday, following a firearms compliance check in Lansvale and Villawood.

“During those checks we located a kilo of cannabis, over two and a half kilos of heroin and almost $40,000 at one of those locations,” Commander Koutsoufis said.

“Two men were arrested at one of those premises and charged with supplying a prohibited drug and dealing with proceeds of crime.

The two men - Ahmed Taiba and Mohamed Shameem, remain before the courts. There is no suggestion either man was involved in or had knowledge of the alleged arson attack.

A suspected drug lab inside a larger industrial complex has gone up in flames in Sydney’s southwest. Picture: Tamaryn McGregor

Commander Koutsoufis said information obtained during the searches led police to the Revesby complex on Milperra Road on Monday evening.

“In one unit an alleged inactive clandestine lab was found with methylamphetamine and precursors located inside,” he said.

“We allege that we’ve located a significant amount of drugs at the location.”

Mr Koutsoufis said specialist police and the drugs and firearm squad spent the day undergoing an “extensive and lengthy process” to dismantle and remove drugs and equipment from the “elaborate” lab.

“That process was set to continue today and as such we had the location under police guard overnight,” he said.

He then revealed on Wednesday morning officers noticed the fire on the roof of the complex.

Mr Koutsoufis said those allegedly behind the advanced drug scheme had been on the radar of specialist police investigators for some time.

“We allege those involved are part of a serious organised criminal network involved in serious criminal activity and we have severely impacted their operations through these investigations,” he said.

Police allegedly located and seized 2.6kg of heroin, 1kg of cannabis, and nearly $40,000 in cash. Picture: NSW Police Force,

“They are very well known to us however this was a short-term investigation which has proven a big hit.

“We believe they have widespread connections, not just in New South Wales.”

The State Crime Commander described the attempt to destroy evidence in the alleged lab as “brazen, dangerous and desperate.”

“It reaffirms our belief in the serious nature of the alleged criminal operation which was going on at that complex,” he said.

“This has just grown in seriousness.

“It shows whatever they tried didn’t work and now they are well and truly in the radar.”

Firefighters have extinguished the blaze and are working with police to determine the cause, with the site being forensically examined and analysed for DNA.

“Smoke was coming from a small industrial block, we had crews going to work with hose lines extinguishing several small fires in and around the unit,” Fire and Rescue Superintendent Greg Wright said on Wednesday morning.

Workers and business owners attempting to access the industrial complex on Wednesday morning were turned away by police, with the crime scene being investigated by specialist crews in the section cordoned off by blue and white tape.

The owner of a business at the complex, a woman who did not want to be named, said she was initially called on Monday evening by police with reports her shop was a crime scene.

“They (police) forced entry into our business. They thought it was ours and made a mistake,” she said.

“The hazard truck was there and was packing stuff away out of the shop behind us.”

The owner was then shocked when she received a further call informing her the complex had caught fire.

“My husband is traumatised,” she said.

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