POLICE SWOOP ON DRUG LAB

Dunedin's second known clandestine methamphetamine laboratory was uncovered
by police yesterday.

Armed police swooped on the Fairfield address at 5.40pm following a
tip-off, "which proved to be very accurate", Detective Sergeant Neil
Lowden, of Mosgiel, said.

The armed offenders squad was first to enter the Main South Rd house where
the laboratory was found.

A man and a woman, carrying an infant, were seen leaving the property in
the custody of police. The man and woman underwent a decontamination
process by the Fire Service before being put into a police car.

A 31-year-old man was last night charged with possession of equipment for
the manufacture of methamphetamine, while a 27-year-old woman was being
interviewed by police, Det Sgt Lowden said.

Police staff and members of the Christchurch-based Institute of
Environmental Science and Research were still at the scene last night
conducting tests and investigations which were expected to last "several
days", he said.

"Depending on the results of the tests, more serious charges could follow."

Neighbours were shocked to learn a laboratory had been discovered in their
street. They said the occupants had lived in the house for only six to
eight weeks. They said two children, one aged about 5 and a baby, lived at
the house with a man and a woman. No-one had noticed anything untoward
about activities in the house.

This was the second laboratory found in Dunedin. The first was in Northeast
Valley last October after a long investigation, involving covert
surveillance and wire taps, by Christchurch and Dunedin police.