An 11-year-old girl was found in a Te Puke home that police say was one of the region's largest methamphetamine labs.
The girl was referred to Children, Youth and Family and a medical examination would determine if the girl was suffering any adverse health effects from being inside the house.
A specialised clandestine lab clean-up crew from Auckland were still working at the Conifer Place home yesterday, after it was raided at dawn on Tuesday.
Two men, a woman and the girl were inside the property, consisting of a house and garage, where a large fully operational methamphetamine lab was found.
Acting officer in charge of the Western Bay of Plenty CIB, Detective Senior Sergeant Lindsay Pilbrow, said the size of the lab was "major". "It's a very large and very significant lab. It's not just an out-of-the-car-boot job."
Mr Pilbrow said the crew was still working on the clean up and he could not offer further details about the lab other than to confirm it was "definitely one of the biggest we've seen".
Mr Pilbrow said police were concerned a child was involved.
"We really want to get that child medically taken care of."
The two men, 35 and 55, who were already facing methamphetamine related charges, could face more following the child's examination.
Mr Pilbrow said police were often finding young children in homes operating as methamphetamine labs in the Western Bay of Plenty.
"The types of chemicals they use are highly toxic. It's not only the chemicals, it's the possibility of explosions. If that were to happen and a young child is at that location ... there is all sorts of possibilities children should not be involved in."
Nationally, 90 children were found in 47 of 123 clandestine labs uncovered by police from January 1 to November 30, 2010 compared with 55 children found at 29 of 135 sites in 2009.
Anyone who suspected someone was operating a lab could contact police anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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