Stolen caravan raises P-lab fears

The stolen caravan that was undergoing examination by clan lab specialists from Auckland yesterday.

Police discovered more than the stolen caravan they were looking for when they went to a secluded residential property inland from Taipa.

They found the caravan, which had been reported stolen from Parapara, but also discovered that it contained chemicals believed to be those used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, when they visited the property on Tuesday.

The plan to tow the caravan to the Mangonui police station was abandoned.

Members of the Auckland clan lab team arrived yesterday morning to conduct an expert examination.

No confirmed details of the caravan's contents were available yesterday afternoon, but a 40-year woman, who is believed to live at the address, was charged with possessing and selling cannabis, cultivating the drug and receiving the caravan.

A police spokesman said efforts were being made yesterday to locate a man with links to the address, and a second man who was "of interest".

Anyone who had any information was asked to contact the police in Kaitaia on (09) 408-6500.

The find is the latest in a string of meth lab busts in Northland in recent months.

Five people were arrested after emergency services discovered a meth lab in Dolphin Place, on the Tutukaka Coast, on July 10.

A methamphetamine lab was also found in a campervan in Moerewa on June 27.

Detective Inspector Kevin Burke said at the time police had found what were believed to be chemicals and equipment used to make the highly addictive Class A drug in the caravan.

Mr Bourke said police were increasingly finding more of the smaller mobile meth labs in vehicles.