Five people have been arrested after cops uncovered a massive synthetic drug lab in suburban Richmond.
Last Thursday, the RCMP's drug enforcement team executed a search warrant in connection with a large commercial-scale drug lab at a home in the 6200-block of Gibbons Drive.
Upon their arrival they arrested a man and a woman.
Three other men were arrested while attempting to flee out the back of the residence.
All five individuals, aged between 20 and 27-years-old, remain in custody pending a court appearance. All are known to police, four are residents of Richmond and one from Vancouver.
Members of the RCMP Clandestine Lab Team, Richmond RCMP, B.C. Ambulance Service, Richmond Fire and Rescue and specialist chemists from Health Canada remained at the site for several hours to ensure that it was safe and secure.
They have since returned to the site and members of the Clandestine Lab team worked on dismantling the operation on the weekend.
A Health Canada chemist confirmed that this operation was an active, bubbling methamphetamine drug lab.
It appears that the residence was used solely for the purpose of producing synthetic drugs.
A second search warrant was executed at a Richmond apartment located in the 3300-block of Corvette Way in relation to the investigation. No clandestine lab was located in the apartment.
Police started this investigation in early May. During the course of their investigation, they gathered evidence that allowed them to obtain these search warrants.
The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are anticipated. The names of the arrested individuals are not being released pending charge approval.
Police say that clandestine labs are volatile and dangerous operations. Clandestine lab operators may use barns, sheds, single-family homes or urban apartments. These locations pose significant threats to the public and "first responders" safety from fire, explosions, ground-water contamination, and hazardous by-products including toxic fumes that result from production.
Anyone who has any information about the presence of these labs in their community should call the police immediately or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
