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Five men arrested and charged in connection with a series of police raids that turned up four methamphetamine laboratories in Christchurch today were denied bail in Christchurch District Court this afternoon.
A sixth man arrested on a warrant from Waitakere after being found at one of the properties
was granted bail by Judge John Strettell.
Stephen Peter Cole, 39, a postal worker, is charged with being a party to the manufacture of methamphetamine and cultivating cannabis.
Michael Anthony James, 46, whose occupation wasn't listed on court documents, is charged with allowing a Sydenham premises to be used for manufacturing methamphetamine.
Michael Lindsay Grant, 30, unemployed, faces three charges alleging he was in possession of substances, equipment and materials for the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Andrew Jolyon Elgin, 28, unemployed, who was allegedly found at a Kaiapoi property raided by police today, is charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Russell James Edward Weeks, 25, a labourer, is charged with cultivating cannabis.
Police opposed bail in all cases.
Judge Strettell remanded all five in custody but told police prosecutor Tod Nicholls he believed the grounds for opposition were too broad.
He wanted police to provide "new and specific" grounds for their opposition to bail at their next court appearances.
James was remanded in custody until tomorrow when a bail application was expected to be heard. The others were all remanded in custody until Thursday.
The court was told charges were expected to be laid against Jeffrey William Wyatt, 31, who was arrested on a warrant from Waitakere, but Judge Strettell allowed him bail with a 12-hour curfew from 7pm, to appear again on Thursday.
Earlier, police said they uncovered four illegal methamphetamine or "P" labs after executing a series of search warrants in Christchurch and the North Canterbury town of Kaiapoi, 16km north of the city, from about 6am.
Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Wormald, of Papanui CIB, said the warrants targeted drugs, stolen vehicles and equipment involved in manufacturing methamphetamine.
The armed offenders squad allegedly discovered chemicals and equipment used to make P at one of the labs in Burke St, Sydenham. Five occupants and several police had to be decontaminated.
Similar equipment was allegedly found at properties in Halswell, Bromley and Riccarton suburbs.
Mr Wormald said in addition to the P lab discoveries a commercial property in the central city was searched and a number of stolen vehicles and parts from stolen vehicles were allegedly recovered.
- NZPA
