Drug labs busted as cops run hot

Territory police have scored a series of spectacular successes against drug dealers in the past week.

Darwin-based Drug Enforcement Section officers:

FOUND two drug laboratories in the same house;

DISCOVERED an amphetamine lab in a northern suburbs home; and

RETURNED to a unit where cannabis and drug money was allegedly found last week and unearthed more drugs and cash.

Superintendent Kris Evans and his men were ecstatic after the series of raid.

He said he was confident the operations would put a dent in the supply of drugs in Darwin and remote communities.

"I have little doubt there are clandestine labs still out there but I'm confident we've made a dent in the manufacture and supply of amphetamines," he said. "We also have intelligence that suggests cannabis is getting harder to come by in remote communities.

"The simple message to drug suppliers is: we will catch you.

"It might not be straight away -- but we will catch you.

"And we'll seize not only your drugs, but property you own that is the proceeds of crime."

Police found the two labs during a raid on a home at Humpty Doo, 50km southeast of Darwin.

One lab had the equipment to start production.

A 31-year-old man was charged with drug offences.

Drug Enforcement Section officers also swooped on a Tiwi home and found a drug lab.

A 48-year-old man was charged. The two raids were not connected.

Police also returned to a unit at Stuart Park to carry out a full search.

About 11.5kg of cannabis and $55,000 in cash was allegedly found at the home last week.

A further 1.5kg of drugs and $33,000 in cash was allegedly found in the second search.

Supt Evans said he believed it was only a matter of time before a clandestine lab exploded, causing serious injury.

He said manufacturers were shopping around chemists for cold and flu tablets containing pseudoephedrine, the main precursor ingredient in amphetamines.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 02 June 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Greg McLean
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283