NEWS : 01.2.10 - Police warn on drug lab booby traps

[kingpin007]

Police warn on drug lab booby traps


JOHN SILVESTER
February 1, 2010

POLICE are concerned that organised crime syndicates are setting potentially deadly mantraps to try to protect their lucrative amphetamine laboratories hidden around Victoria.

The head of the clandestine laboratory squad, Detective Inspector Ken Ashworth, said police had uncovered a record 112 labs in 2009 - a jump of nearly 600 per cent in seven years.

He said investigators and forensic experts now checked for booby traps during raids and reconnaissance missions because syndicates often set devices to secure the secret production bases. The traps include trip wires, doors rigged to explode when opened, and acid spread on surfaces to cause severe chemical burns. Police say the gangs:

■Can turn rental properties and hotel rooms into temporary labs in just hours.

■Create a massive environmental risk by dumping dangerous chemicals in drains, rivers, public parks and on roadsides.

■Have caused several potentially fatal explosions.

■Have left homes uninhabitable due to chemical pollution.

In October, four people were hospitalised after a speed lab exploded in a rented flat in Rathmines Road, Hawthorn. The building was badly damaged. Last month three people were hurt in a lab blast in a Preston hotel room.

Detective Inspector Ashworth said police were receiving more tip-offs from the public and the chemical industry. ''We think there has been an increase in the number of labs … but we also think we are becoming better at locating them.''

He said a large lab could produce up to 10 kilograms of speed in 24 hours with a wholesale value of more than $30,000.

''Those convicted of producing large commercial quantities of these drugs have been sentenced to up to 15 years' jail. The hefty sentences reflect the sophistication of their operations,'' he said.

Drugs that have been produced in the backyard labs include amphetamine (speed), MDMA (Methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine or ecstasy), crystal meth (ice), and liquids such as GBH (gamma hydroxybutyrate) and, more recently, GBL (gamma butyrolactone).

Inspector Ashworth said drugs made in a clandestine lab produced four to 10 times more chemical by-product than drugs made in legal labs, with the waste always illegally dumped. ''Many of those involved don't know the risks.''

Exposure to the chemicals can lead to cancer, respiratory illness, brain damage, kidney damage and skin irritations. Police from the squad are equipped with breathing equipment and protective clothing when they conduct raids and have full medical checks once a year.

''Many of the offenders seem unaware of the short-term risks from explosions and fires and the long-term risks they are taking with their health. They are also endangering the public,'' Inspector Ashworth said.

Anyone with suspicions about clandestine labs should contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/police-warn-on-drug-lab-booby-traps-20100131-n6jw.html

 

[hyroller]

I've known those to have witnessed a temp lab setup before.... doesn't mean it was executed with a great deal of success/yield....

but yeah - sort of can't blame them for taking extreme measures in this climate. I mean, from a consumer perspective, it's to be expected in a way.

 

[puckboy]

It seems Australia will head in the same direction as the USA (mid-west). The higher our population gets the increase we will see in this... you can't stop it.

More hopeless addicts, more pain and suffering, though alot more people getting 'high'. Well done prohibition.

 

[Jakeperson]

I've known those to have witnessed a temp lab setup before.... doesn't mean it was executed with a great deal of success/yield...

I have seen quite a full on one in a hotel room like they said. I don't get how a bunch of junkies get the hotel room and get all the shit in without the people working there being suss. A meth junkie is quite easy to spot, and a few of them carting in materials.


The benefits of being around such a "cook" are well worth it though. Most amazing half a point I've ever had and I only ate it.

 

[my innerself]

He said a large lab could produce up to 10 kilograms of speed in 24 hours with a wholesale value of more than $30,000.

hhhmmm I think I could get more then $30,000 for 10000 full weights, 20000 half weights. First time I've seen them underestimate the street price of drugs.

Well done prohibition.

my sarcasm meter just blew up after reading that one lol. Good point though.

By using prohibiton to stop the selling of drugs and consumption of drugs they have created one of the most lucrative businesses in the world. Sending prices of drugs sky high. And dealing drugs does not discriminate. You can be old or young, male or female, smart or dumb.... shit, anyone can sell drugs. The funny thing about this is that true criminals, the ones that are at the top of the food chain or hovering close by are the ones who want it kept illegal. Its the users that want it legal, and we are the ones that are most commonly persecuted.

 

[Amblin]

Drugs that have been produced in the backyard labs include amphetamine (speed), MDMA (Methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine or ecstasy), crystal meth (ice), and liquids such as GBH (gamma hydroxybutyrate) and, more recently, GBL (gamma butyrolactone).

They included the chemical name but still called it GBH. I'm not around this stuff at all so can anyone else say that the name GBH is used on the streets?

 

[Sameria]

I notices that as well Amblin.

As far as I know, GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm) is something the media cooked up a few years ago and are about the only ones that still use the term.

 

[belarki]

^ like "alcopops" yah? 8)

 

[drug_mentor]

I question whether there really are that much more labs or if the cops just are getting more tip offs and learning what to look for better. Alot of people have complained about the quality of speed lately and while on the rare occassions I have gotten on it lately its always been pretty good it seems thats not the case for many. If there really were 600% more labs you would think quality would be up or atleast the price down?

There has been alot of high quality crystal doing the rounds but its fetching a very pretty penny and something tells me this isn't the shit meth heads are cooking up in hotel rooms and rental properties, its imported by syndicates after being produced in international "superlabs".

It is interesting they mention "amphetamine" labs and also "methamphetamine" labs. I wonder if this is because they are calling uncleaned meth amphetamine or if possibly more amphetamine does the rounds more than many on here (including myself) seem to think.

 

[ds333]

I wouldn't think there's much demand here for an illegal amphetamine market, given in Australia (from my experience anyway) it's not too hard to obtain the pharmaceutical grade stuff that's way cheaper per gram compared to many of the illegal amphetamines' street prices today.

 

[phase_dancer]

If you want to read how some years ago a young American lad had the severity of his charges (for making MDMA) lessened due to police thinking his lab might be booby trapped, then check out Memoirs of Eleusis

 

[trancefreak]

phase_dancer

Hakfway through the memoirs, riveting reading!

 

[hyroller]

I have seen quite a full on one in a hotel room like they said. I don't get how a bunch of junkies get the hotel room and get all the shit in without the people working there being suss. A meth junkie is quite easy to spot, and a few of them carting in materials.

it's not entirely difficult... at least, not getting base chemistry getup into, say, a serviced apartment out in the suburbs, with those concerned operating in the dark of night.

spewing they undercooked what came out, at any rate. It smelt fantastic though. I can quite ostensibly say I am addicted to the scent of pseudoephedrine. lol. for better or worse!

but, I digress. who wouldn't set a booby trap on their lab these days? after going to all the effort & risk of setting one up.... what can they expect?

 

[phase_dancer]

after going to all the effort & risk of setting one up.... what can they expect?

It's possibly why there's so many accidents in meth labs these days, tweekers forgetting their booby trap 8(

 

[my innerself]

hahaha damn paranoid tweekers boobytrapping their set ups, instead of going to jail for a year or two if they get caught they could seriously hurt themselves or someone else, damn...hey could even kill themselves or someone else. Then go to jail for murder or manslaugter.

 

[Verybuffed]

How many people actually go around rorting meth labs to warrant the need for booby traps? It's a bit different to ripping someone's plants.

 

[baysieguy1]

phase_dancer

Hakfway through the memoirs, riveting reading!

Agreed, nice read, thanks PD

 

[Amblin]

^ +1

 

[chemi]

^^ +2

awesome read, thanks. poor bastard would be back on the streets now, let's hope he's cooking some tasty, clean mdma

 

[thestudent14]

^
+3