Ice bust: Men ‘caught cooking’ deadly drug at Tuggerah panel beaters
Two alleged drug manufacturers were caught “cooking’’ a large batch of the deadly drug ice when their NSW smash repair business was raided at the weekend, police allege.
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Two alleged drug manufacturers were caught “cooking’’ a large batch of the deadly drug ice when their NSW smash repair business was raided at the weekend, police allege.
The panel beating shop, in the Central Coast suburb of Tuggerah, had allegedly been converted into a clandestine meth lab.
Major airconditioning ducts and other renovations had been undertaken at the premises to conceal the smell of the dangerous chemicals, police allege.
Just before 6pm on Saturday, the two men, — Tony Khoury, 47, and Bradley Power 36 — were allegedly “mid-cook’’ when they left the premises to go for a short stroll.
But they walked straight into officers from the NSW Organised Crime Squad who had put the premises under surveillance.
The two men were arrested and taken to Wyong police station while a search warrant was executed on the premises at Ace Crescent.
Specialist police officers used oxygen tanks strapped to their backs and breathing apparatus as they carried out a prolonged search of the premises.
They allegedly seized large quantities of chemicals that are used to make ice.
It is alleged they also took possession of equipment used in the manufacture of ice.
Police estimate the drugs they uncovered have a potential street value of $2.4m.
The NSW Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission established a joint operation under Strike Force Collarene to investigate the importing, manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs by a criminal syndicate.
Organised Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman said: “Police will allege in court that the pair were members of a criminal syndicate manufacturing and supplying the drug ice.”
The pair was taken to Wyong police station where they were formally charged with manufacture prohibited drug (large commercial quantity) and supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
They appeared at Newcastle Local Court yesterday and were refused bail.