Drug gear for meth lab seized from Maribyrnong detention centre

A SUSPECTED ice lab has been uncovered by officers during a room search at the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre.

Immigrant Escape

A SUSPECTED ice lab has been uncovered by officers at a detention centre in Melbourne.

The budding cooking station included large glass cooking bowls and drug paraphernalia found by staff in a random room search in the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre on February 2.

It is believed the three men living in the room — who have extensive criminal histories — flushed chemical substances down the toilet before guards entered the room.

Phones and a tattoo gun were also found prompting fears that centre staff and guards may have helped bring the prohibited items into the facility undetected.

“The stuff that was found in the search had to be brought in by bags, visitors could not bring that in,” a source said.

“Most of the stuff had to come in by corrupt officers or staff. It is frightening they (residents) were well on the path to producing.

“Drugs in here means money and corruption. People selling that stuff have the capacity to buy staff.”

Victoria Police confirmed drug detectives attended a centre in Maribyrnong at 3pm on Monday.

Detectives located possible drug related paraphernalia and the investigation was ongoing.

It is understood the facility operator Serco flew a tactical response unit in from Sydney today to search up to 40 rooms in the facility.

Sources said one resident became agitated during the search and was locked in a containment room.

The man was due to be deported after holding a woman and an18-month-old son hostage in 2012 in a Melton siege.

The aggressive man kicked out a window escaped into the centre grounds before being subdued by officers.

He suffered multiple injuries and was transported to Footscray Hospital.

Industry sources have called for an overhaul of security operations after the incident amid fears rising numbers of residents were using drugs.

It is the third major incident to occur at the centre in a four-month period.

Two men including an underworld figure capable of “extreme violence”, escaped through a section of fence at the Maribyrnong Detention Centre in November.

A third resident climbed a faulty electric fence with makeshift climbing shoes in January highlighting issues with security.

The Immigration Department confirmed prohibited items were found last week, sparking a further search today.

“During the search a detainee became ill and was taken to hospital as a precaution,” a spokeswoman said.

Operator Serco did not respond to the allegations at the time of print.

Originally published as Drug gear for meth lab seized from Maribyrnong detention centre