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HAMILTON - Police investigating the discovery of one of the country's largest P labs have released rare video footage taken inside the house, as a warning to communities about the dangers of methamphetamine.
The clandestine methamphetamine laboratory - one of the five biggest such labs uncovered to date
- was raided by police on Thursday at Newcastle Rd in Dinsdale, Hamilton.
Police finished decommissioning the lab last night, after an extensive four-day operation to remove the chemicals found.
The clean-up was hampered by the discovery of a small quantity of explosives and a pipebomb.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead screened a six-minute segment, of a 45 minute video, this morning to media in Hamilton, taken by police wearing full protective gear as they walked through the home.
He said the release of the footage was an attempt to dispel conceptions that P-labs were "nice clinical lab-like environments".
Footage showed several rooms in the cluttered house covered in equipment and containers with chemicals and paraphernalia, which police believe had been accumulated over three years.
Fixtures and fittings in the house could be seen to be corroded from the chemicals and fumes.
Two large flatscreen televisions were in the house and were connected to a security system, he said.
Mr Whitehead said he did not know what the small quantities of explosives and the home-made pipe bomb were intended to be used for.
"The chemicals are dangerous in their own right and are extremely volatile.
"They give off toxic vapours and fumes and it is not uncommon for clan labs to have explosive events."
Mr Whitehead said since the discovery neighbours had come forward and reported hearing on two occasions small explosions.
Police were discussing any health risks to neighbours with local medical health officers, he said.
"Risks are minimal outside of the immediate property."
Neighbours, who were evacuated from their homes, had now been allowed back and traffic access along Newcastle Rd returned to normal today.
Mr Whitehead said he wanted people and communities to be aware of the risks of P labs and to look for warning signs in their neighbourhood.
"People need to know how dangerous they are and how significant they are in their communities."
Mr Whitehead said people should look for chemical smells coming from properties, unusual venting and any discharges into local wastewater.
The P lab was discovered through information received about a suspicious purchase of pharmaceutical products, he said.
Mr Whitehead said he anticipated the discovery had made a dent in the supply of the drug, as the lab would have produced multiple kilograms of the drug with a million dollar street value.
However, he was a realistic as to the long-term impact on the drug trade.
Last year 35 clan labs were discovered in the Waikato district.
Mr Whitehead said any decision about whether the home should be destroyed would be made with Hamilton city council staff and the property's owner.
The sole occupant of the rented property, a 49-year-old Hamilton man, appeared in Hamilton District Court on Friday on six charges of possession of precursor materials for manufacturing methamphetamine and one charge of manufacturing methamphetamine.
Mr Whitehead said the man had refused any health checks.
- NZPA
