POLICE BUST PERTH SPEED 'FARM'

Ten people face charges after raids on a farm drive shed and two apartments.

Ten people face drug charges after police shut down two Perth County labs
used to produce the street drug known as speed.

"This is a pretty big deal," said Perth County OPP Const. Glen Childerly.
"We are really happy to get this off the streets."

Childerly said Wednesday's takedowns involving a Monkton- area farm drive
shed and two apartments may have closed the only methamphetamine-producing
operation in Perth County.

"This is the first case I'm aware of," he said. "This stuff is unique."

While the bust netted less than $30,000 street value worth of the drug,
Childerly said, it was significant because the facilities are potential
fire hazards.

Police also seized a .22 calibre handgun, ammunition, stolen property,
surveillance cameras, marijuana and hash oil.

Police first raided "the main lab," a farm garage on Line 55, about three
kilometres east of Monkton, where they found equipment and chemicals.

Childerly said the people who lived there did not appear to be farming
legitimately. "It was a speed farm. They were doing speed farming," he said.

Success in that search led police to another lab in a nearby apartment and
a Milverton apartment filled with drying equipment, Childerly said.

Methamphetamine can be smoked, snorted, injected intravenously or ingested
orally. People who use speed say it gives them a rush, or a feeling of
euphoria.

If not mixed properly, lethal chemicals required to make speed can explode.
That issue came to light two years ago when a burning Wallaceburg garage
led firefighters to a methamphetamine operation.

Because of the hazards, and also the strong smell of the chemicals involved
in production, manufacturers usually set up shop in a remote location,
often a barn.

Childerly said the garage on Line 55 "smelled like cat (urine)"

Health Canada chemists helped police dismantle the labs. Stratford police
and local fire departments and paramedics also helped.

The suspects are charged with offences including producing a controlled
substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a
controlled substance and drug trafficking charges, as well as stolen
property and firearms related charges.