Softly, softly ... how police cracked down on methamphetamine labs

Photo / Suplied

At 8.30am on Thursday a crowd of police in jeans and stab-proof vests are gathered for a briefing on a methampetamine raid.

It's the latest in a series of raids during a month-long operation to clamp down on the dangerous drug.

Detective Sergeant Daryl Smith outlines the targets, their address, known associates and how the bust will go down. They don't expect violence, but two of the targets have a "significant" criminal history. The AOS are there to make sure police and neighbours are safe.

Mr Smith asks his team to slowly and methodically search the property once the occupants are removed.

They are looking for methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, money, weapons, and anything else of interest.

"There could be traps," Mr Smith says. "So take your time. Safety first."

Another officer draws a floor plan of the house on a whiteboard while a third explains where he found illegal items during a previous bust of the property.

With that the team, about 20 officers, files out of Hamilton Police Station and heads for unmarked cars.

When they arrive at the street, a cul-de-sac, the AOS is already in the house. Four or five vehicles are "stacked" in order of who is going in first.

Respectable and inconspicuous looking, the house is a detached weatherboard home.

Police expect to find three people but discover seven adults - five inside and two living in the garage, including gang members and associates.

There is little resistance, but drug paraphernalia is tossed from the window.

A tattooed man leaves the property in silence followed shortly after by the man and woman living in the garage, and later another woman with a puppy in tow. They will be taken away and interviewed by detectives.

Two hours later and it is all over.

Police and the AOS leave the property.

Exactly what was found and what charges will follow will be revealed in the coming days.

It is the final raid in this campaign but the war on P continues.