What a suburban Sydney drug lab really looks like

Sans Souci, in Sydney’s south, is a suburban area popular with families.

But last week, it became the scene of a major police operation after a clandestine drug lab was found in an ordinary granny flat.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Inside a suburban Sydney drug lab

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A video filmed by NSW Police inside the drug lab shows the set-up of the clandestine operation just metres away from a neighbour’s yard.

From the outside, the drug lab appears to be a normal granny flat.

But as the camera creeps inside, drops of blood are seen on the tiled floor, before the lab is exposed.

In the front room of the granny flat, large barrels, some tarp, and electrical equipment can be seen in an elaborate setup opposite the kitchen.

Besides the wall, on a stainless-steel table is seen covered in plastic containers and two sets of scales as well as other miscellaneous items.

Buckets and glass jars and beakers are seen nearby, as well as a pedestal fan.

Close by, on the stove top, more glass beakers can be seen, one of which contains a dark-coloured liquid with a red hue.

A second room in the granny flat contained a chest freezer, more buckets and dozens of cardboard boxes, some of which contained white bottles.

A fridge containing more buckets was set up in the corner of the room.

The windows inside the drug lab were also completely covered with what appeared to be makeshift curtains. A window in the kitchen also appeared to be covered with cardboard boxes.

The clandestine drug lab was discovered last month after reports of an explosion.

When police arrived at the location in Sans Souci, they found the lab and were told a man had allegedly fled the scene with an injury to his face.

A total of 5kg of methamphetamine and 12kg of ephedrine were found inside the granny flat.

“Other chemicals consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs were located and seized to undergo further forensic examination,” NSW Police said.

Following investigations under Strike Force Bumballa, a 45-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday and charged with drug manufacturing and supplying offences.

Suburban drug labs

But it’s not the first time police have found a clandestine drug lab hidden in suburbia.

In September, 50kg of methamphetamine was seized after being found inside a lab in Gladesville, in Sydney’s lower north shore and in August, a clandestine lab was found in Rouse Hill, in the city’s north west.

Drugs and Firearms Squad Commander Detective Superintendent John Watson said drug labs like these could be found “virtually anywhere”.

“There’s no real pattern to them. They can be found in remote and rural areas of the state … an Airbnb house and in this case a granny flat,” he said.

“The secret about criminals is that they try and vary the locations. Oftentimes it might be in a backyard shed.”

Drug labs need three main things — a water source, electricity and privacy, Watson said.

Telltale signs of a lab include seeing people come and go at all hours of the day and night, chemical odours, chemical bottles in rubbish bins, blocked windows and makeshift air conditioning or extraction fans that are on all the time.

“The curtains and blinds are quite often and most regularly closed. Windows are closed because the criminals want to keep what they’re doing private, but also they want to keep the fumes and everything inside and they don’t want prying eyes either,” Watson said.

“Oftentimes they generally don’t live where they’re manufacturing drugs, so the places obviously look unoccupied or people come and go at all sorts of odd hours. They’re more inclined not to want to meet their neighbours.

“(Neighbours) could be hearing mechanical noises. Oftentimes (drug labs) have mechanical stirs stirring liquids at all hours of the night.

“But also the smells of the chemicals, fumes. Quite commonly people think it smells like methylated spirits which is not uncommon when people are painting, but if you or your neighbour is not painting, it may well be that you have a clandestine laboratory located nearby.”

Watson said police dismantle about 100 drug labs — varying in size — per year following tip-offs from the public and investigative work.

Once the labs are uncovered, they’re forensically examined then dismantled and a process to remove hazardous waste begins.

Large-scale drug labs, like the one found in Sans Souci, are usually linked to organised crime.

Smaller labs can sometimes be run by people manufacturing drugs for their own personal use or for friends.

“But they’re always people intent on breaking the law. People intend on selling for a profit, but more importantly, they’re people that are quite happy to accept the risk and put other people at risk as well,” Watson said.

“It’s a backyard operation and these things are really dangerous.

“They’re volatile, they’re likely to explode or catch on fire.”

Watson said if you do come across a drug lab, or suspect one, do not go inside as the chemicals you breathe or touch could cause a range of health issues.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.