Hidden meth lab uncovered and dismantled in Sydney's west with over 100kg of meth-related products seized
A hidden meth lab has been uncovered and dismantled after Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized more than 100kg of meth-related products.
The clandestine lab was discovered during a search of a Fairfield East home in Sydney's west on June 19.
Inside, officers found 77kg of drug-impregnated materials, 39kg of pre-manufactured methamphetamine, 35kg of liquid allegedly containing meth, and more than 600 litres of waste material.
Electronic devices were also seized and will undergo forensic examination.
This is part of an ongoing investigation into a criminal syndicate that began in October 2023, when 27kg of meth concealed in blankets bound for Australia was found in the US.
The shipment, which originated in South America and had an estimated street value of $25 million, was seized by US Customs and Border Protection, who then alerted the AFP.
The AFP traced the consignment to a phone number allegedly linked to previous failed import attempts.
In April last year, officers executed a search warrant at a Cabramatta property, seizing two devices linked to the attempted import.
Meanwhile, another search was carried out at a Canley Vale home, where police seized an encrypted communication device.
Further inquiries led investigators to the Fairfield East address, allegedly used by the syndicate, where the meth lab was uncovered.
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said those behind the operation showed no concern for the harm caused by illicit drugs and were only motivated by greed and profit.
'The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day,' Blunden said.
'I want to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of all the AFP members involved in these investigations, from investigators and intelligence members to all of our other support capabilities.
'I also wish to thank our counterparts at NSW Police, in particular the Drug & Firearms Squad Chemical Operations team for their specialist and expert assistance in this matter.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
9 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Critical incident declared after former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas injured at Sydney protest
A state police watchdog will oversee a probe into a violent arrest at a pro-Palestine rally that left allegedly seriously injured a one-time federal Greens candidate. The decision on Monday ends days of NSW Police refusals to declare the wounding of Hannah Thomas a critical incident, requiring a full investigation with independent oversight. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Probe called into violent arrest at pro-Palestine rally. The 35-year-old was among five people arrested in Sydney on Friday outside an Australian firm reportedly linked to the manufacture of components for Israeli Defence Force fighter jets. Police have faced scrutiny over the arrest after Thomas said the action could result in permanent vision loss in her right eye. On Monday afternoon, NSW Police said a critical incident investigation had been declared after a review of her medical records, which showed her injury was serious enough to warrant the decision. 'NSW Police had sought medical information from the 35-year-old woman, on multiple occasions, since the incident to determine if her injuries had met the critical incident threshold,' a statement said. A team of officers from another command would investigate the incident, with internal review by professional standards and external oversight from police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Earlier, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said he had not seen any misconduct on body-worn camera footage of the incident and all officers involved remained on duty. But lawyer Peter O'Brien, representing Thomas, said he had grave concerns over the force's actions and suggested police felt emboldened to shut down protests after a recent crackdown. 'The recordings demonstrate that there was a fundamental misunderstanding as to the extent of the police officer's powers to give directions leading up to the arrests which ensued,' he said. 'Hannah Thomas has sustained a serious and potentially life-altering injury as a result of her interaction with police at the protest.' Posting on social media from her hospital bed, Thomas said 'Draconian' anti-protest laws had given police a licence 'to crack down on peaceful protest in extremely violent, brutal ways'. 'I'm five-foot-one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest,' she said. Premier Chris Minns refused to criticise police conduct until further information came to light, underlining a balance of enforcing the law and allowing freedom of political expression. The protesters accused a southwest Sydney business of making parts for Israel fighter jets, a claim the firm denies. Minns denied controversial protest laws passed in February were used by police to move on the demonstrators on Friday morning, as claimed by Greens MPs, or that the laws had emboldened police to act more forcefully. Police said the protest was unauthorised and blocked access to the Belmore business. 'A scuffle ensued between police and protesters' during attempts to arrest the protesters for not complying with move-on directions, they said. A video of the incident showed police dragging one of the protesters as onlookers repeatedly shouted 'get off her' and 'let go of her'. Thomas, who ran second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the inner-west Sydney seat of Grayndler in the federal election in May, was charged with hindering or resisting police and not following a move-on direction. She is set to appear at Bankstown Local Court in August. Footage of Ms Thomas circulating online showed her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken to hospital. All five protesters arrested during the scuffle were granted bail and four will appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15.
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
Aussie mum breaks silence from Taiwan jail
Television's widely anticipated replacement for The Project has kicked off with an exclusive interview with convicted Australian drug smuggler Debbie Voulgaris from a Taiwanese prison. 10 News+, which will air from 6pm on weeknights, promises viewers 'explosive' revelations in the case for its first episode. Ms Voulgaris, a Melbourne mum-of-five, speaks from an overcrowded women's prison in Taipei and states emphatically that she is innocent of the allegations that have put her behind bars for 15 years. Ms Voulgaris was caught with 4kg of heroin and a small amount of cocaine at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan in late 2023. She pleaded guilty to the charge and in late 2024 she was sentenced to 15 years in prison. But she has maintained that she brought drugs in unknowingly. Now, appearing on the current affairs program helmed by journalists Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace, she pleads with two of her children via a video call to help get her back home to Australia. Debbie Voulgaris says she is innocent of her drug smuggling conviction. 10 News Credit: Supplied 'I'm innocent. I am innocent,' she says through tears. 'Please help me to get home as soon as possible. 'To my angels, that's all I can say.' The program claims to have evidence that supports Ms Voulgaris' claim of innocence. 'She confessed in court in Taiwan, didn't she?' Mr Hitchcock in a clip of the program seen by NewsWire. 'Well, prepare yourself. The truth is explosive.' In earlier promotional material, Mr Hitchcock and Ms Brace promise viewers the show will 'put the truth first'. Mr Hitchcock has also claimed Monday night's episode would be 'an absolute blockbuster'. 'It's a story 60 Minutes, Four Corners and Spotlight would kill for,' he told Stellar Magazine. The Project ran for 16 years, ending its run with a farewell show last Friday night. Mr Aly, in an emotional tribute, said the show had 'reflected the best of this country'. Journalists Denham Hitchcock and Walkley Award-winning journalist Amelia Brace will helm the new current affairs show. 10 News Credit: Supplied 'Could you do a prime time commercial news show that hooked its audience by playing with them instead of scaring them,' he said. 'That didn't trade on demonising groups of people who have no platform to respond? 'Not the done thing. Well, we done the thing.' The Project launched in 2009 and Friday's finale was its 4504th episode. Australian and international celebrities sent in supportive farewell video messages, with thanks and well wishes coming from G Flip, Robert Irwin, Jess Mauboy, Andy Lee, Pete Murray, Dannii Minogue, Katy Perry, Guy Sebastian and Shane Jacobson. The Project's longest-serving host, Carrie Bickmore, was close to tears thanking everyone she crossed paths with over 13 years. Ms Bickmore left the show to devote herself fully to fundraising efforts. Channel 10 is owned by US entertainment giant Paramount Global.
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Probe called into violent arrest at pro-Palestine rally
A state police watchdog will oversee a probe into a violent arrest at a pro-Palestine rally that seriously injured a one-time federal Greens candidate. The decision on Monday ends days of NSW Police refusals to declare the wounding of Hannah Thomas a critical incident, requiring a full investigation with independent oversight. The 35-year-old was among five people arrested in Sydney on Friday outside an Australian firm reportedly linked to the manufacture of components for Israeli Defence Force fighter jets. Police have faced scrutiny over the arrest after Ms Thomas said the action could result in permanent vision loss in her right eye. On Monday afternoon, NSW Police said a critical incident investigation had been declared after a review of her medical records, which showed her injury was serious enough to warrant the decision. "NSW Police had sought medical information from the 35-year-old woman, on multiple occasions, since the incident to determine if her injuries had met the critical incident threshold," a statement said. A team of officers from another command would investigate the incident, with internal review by professional standards and external oversight from police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Earlier, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said he had not seen any misconduct on body-worn camera footage of the incident and all officers involved remained on duty. But lawyer Peter O'Brien, representing Ms Thomas, said he had grave concerns over the force's actions and suggested police felt emboldened to shut down protests after a recent crackdown. "The recordings demonstrate that there was a fundamental misunderstanding as to the extent of the police officer's powers to give directions leading up to the arrests which ensued," he said. "Hannah Thomas has sustained a serious and potentially life-altering injury as a result of her interaction with police at the protest." Posting on social media from her hospital bed, Ms Thomas said "draconian" anti-protest laws had given police a licence "to crack down on peaceful protest in extremely violent, brutal ways". "I'm five-foot-one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest," she said. Premier Chris Minns refused to criticise police conduct until further information came to light, underlining a balance of enforcing the law and allowing freedom of political expression. The protesters accused SEC Plating, in southwest Sydney, of making parts for F-35 jets used by Israel, a claim the firm denies. Mr Minns denied controversial protest laws passed in February were used by police to move on the demonstrators on Friday morning, as claimed by Greens MPs, or that the laws had emboldened police to act more forcefully. Police said the protest at SEC Plating was unauthorised and blocked access to the Belmore business. "A scuffle ensued between police and protesters" during attempts to arrest the protesters for not complying with move-on directions, they said. A video of the incident showed police dragging one of the protesters as onlookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Ms Thomas, who ran second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the inner-west Sydney seat of Grayndler in the federal election in May, was charged on Sunday with hindering or resisting police and not following a move-on direction. She is set to appear at Bankstown Local Court in August. Footage of Ms Thomas circulating online showed her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken to hospital. All five protesters arrested during the scuffle were granted bail and four will appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. A state police watchdog will oversee a probe into a violent arrest at a pro-Palestine rally that seriously injured a one-time federal Greens candidate. The decision on Monday ends days of NSW Police refusals to declare the wounding of Hannah Thomas a critical incident, requiring a full investigation with independent oversight. The 35-year-old was among five people arrested in Sydney on Friday outside an Australian firm reportedly linked to the manufacture of components for Israeli Defence Force fighter jets. Police have faced scrutiny over the arrest after Ms Thomas said the action could result in permanent vision loss in her right eye. On Monday afternoon, NSW Police said a critical incident investigation had been declared after a review of her medical records, which showed her injury was serious enough to warrant the decision. "NSW Police had sought medical information from the 35-year-old woman, on multiple occasions, since the incident to determine if her injuries had met the critical incident threshold," a statement said. A team of officers from another command would investigate the incident, with internal review by professional standards and external oversight from police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Earlier, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said he had not seen any misconduct on body-worn camera footage of the incident and all officers involved remained on duty. But lawyer Peter O'Brien, representing Ms Thomas, said he had grave concerns over the force's actions and suggested police felt emboldened to shut down protests after a recent crackdown. "The recordings demonstrate that there was a fundamental misunderstanding as to the extent of the police officer's powers to give directions leading up to the arrests which ensued," he said. "Hannah Thomas has sustained a serious and potentially life-altering injury as a result of her interaction with police at the protest." Posting on social media from her hospital bed, Ms Thomas said "draconian" anti-protest laws had given police a licence "to crack down on peaceful protest in extremely violent, brutal ways". "I'm five-foot-one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest," she said. Premier Chris Minns refused to criticise police conduct until further information came to light, underlining a balance of enforcing the law and allowing freedom of political expression. The protesters accused SEC Plating, in southwest Sydney, of making parts for F-35 jets used by Israel, a claim the firm denies. Mr Minns denied controversial protest laws passed in February were used by police to move on the demonstrators on Friday morning, as claimed by Greens MPs, or that the laws had emboldened police to act more forcefully. Police said the protest at SEC Plating was unauthorised and blocked access to the Belmore business. "A scuffle ensued between police and protesters" during attempts to arrest the protesters for not complying with move-on directions, they said. A video of the incident showed police dragging one of the protesters as onlookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Ms Thomas, who ran second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the inner-west Sydney seat of Grayndler in the federal election in May, was charged on Sunday with hindering or resisting police and not following a move-on direction. She is set to appear at Bankstown Local Court in August. Footage of Ms Thomas circulating online showed her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken to hospital. All five protesters arrested during the scuffle were granted bail and four will appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. A state police watchdog will oversee a probe into a violent arrest at a pro-Palestine rally that seriously injured a one-time federal Greens candidate. The decision on Monday ends days of NSW Police refusals to declare the wounding of Hannah Thomas a critical incident, requiring a full investigation with independent oversight. The 35-year-old was among five people arrested in Sydney on Friday outside an Australian firm reportedly linked to the manufacture of components for Israeli Defence Force fighter jets. Police have faced scrutiny over the arrest after Ms Thomas said the action could result in permanent vision loss in her right eye. On Monday afternoon, NSW Police said a critical incident investigation had been declared after a review of her medical records, which showed her injury was serious enough to warrant the decision. "NSW Police had sought medical information from the 35-year-old woman, on multiple occasions, since the incident to determine if her injuries had met the critical incident threshold," a statement said. A team of officers from another command would investigate the incident, with internal review by professional standards and external oversight from police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Earlier, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said he had not seen any misconduct on body-worn camera footage of the incident and all officers involved remained on duty. But lawyer Peter O'Brien, representing Ms Thomas, said he had grave concerns over the force's actions and suggested police felt emboldened to shut down protests after a recent crackdown. "The recordings demonstrate that there was a fundamental misunderstanding as to the extent of the police officer's powers to give directions leading up to the arrests which ensued," he said. "Hannah Thomas has sustained a serious and potentially life-altering injury as a result of her interaction with police at the protest." Posting on social media from her hospital bed, Ms Thomas said "draconian" anti-protest laws had given police a licence "to crack down on peaceful protest in extremely violent, brutal ways". "I'm five-foot-one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest," she said. Premier Chris Minns refused to criticise police conduct until further information came to light, underlining a balance of enforcing the law and allowing freedom of political expression. The protesters accused SEC Plating, in southwest Sydney, of making parts for F-35 jets used by Israel, a claim the firm denies. Mr Minns denied controversial protest laws passed in February were used by police to move on the demonstrators on Friday morning, as claimed by Greens MPs, or that the laws had emboldened police to act more forcefully. Police said the protest at SEC Plating was unauthorised and blocked access to the Belmore business. "A scuffle ensued between police and protesters" during attempts to arrest the protesters for not complying with move-on directions, they said. A video of the incident showed police dragging one of the protesters as onlookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Ms Thomas, who ran second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the inner-west Sydney seat of Grayndler in the federal election in May, was charged on Sunday with hindering or resisting police and not following a move-on direction. She is set to appear at Bankstown Local Court in August. Footage of Ms Thomas circulating online showed her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken to hospital. All five protesters arrested during the scuffle were granted bail and four will appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. A state police watchdog will oversee a probe into a violent arrest at a pro-Palestine rally that seriously injured a one-time federal Greens candidate. The decision on Monday ends days of NSW Police refusals to declare the wounding of Hannah Thomas a critical incident, requiring a full investigation with independent oversight. The 35-year-old was among five people arrested in Sydney on Friday outside an Australian firm reportedly linked to the manufacture of components for Israeli Defence Force fighter jets. Police have faced scrutiny over the arrest after Ms Thomas said the action could result in permanent vision loss in her right eye. On Monday afternoon, NSW Police said a critical incident investigation had been declared after a review of her medical records, which showed her injury was serious enough to warrant the decision. "NSW Police had sought medical information from the 35-year-old woman, on multiple occasions, since the incident to determine if her injuries had met the critical incident threshold," a statement said. A team of officers from another command would investigate the incident, with internal review by professional standards and external oversight from police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Earlier, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said he had not seen any misconduct on body-worn camera footage of the incident and all officers involved remained on duty. But lawyer Peter O'Brien, representing Ms Thomas, said he had grave concerns over the force's actions and suggested police felt emboldened to shut down protests after a recent crackdown. "The recordings demonstrate that there was a fundamental misunderstanding as to the extent of the police officer's powers to give directions leading up to the arrests which ensued," he said. "Hannah Thomas has sustained a serious and potentially life-altering injury as a result of her interaction with police at the protest." Posting on social media from her hospital bed, Ms Thomas said "draconian" anti-protest laws had given police a licence "to crack down on peaceful protest in extremely violent, brutal ways". "I'm five-foot-one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest," she said. Premier Chris Minns refused to criticise police conduct until further information came to light, underlining a balance of enforcing the law and allowing freedom of political expression. The protesters accused SEC Plating, in southwest Sydney, of making parts for F-35 jets used by Israel, a claim the firm denies. Mr Minns denied controversial protest laws passed in February were used by police to move on the demonstrators on Friday morning, as claimed by Greens MPs, or that the laws had emboldened police to act more forcefully. Police said the protest at SEC Plating was unauthorised and blocked access to the Belmore business. "A scuffle ensued between police and protesters" during attempts to arrest the protesters for not complying with move-on directions, they said. A video of the incident showed police dragging one of the protesters as onlookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Ms Thomas, who ran second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the inner-west Sydney seat of Grayndler in the federal election in May, was charged on Sunday with hindering or resisting police and not following a move-on direction. She is set to appear at Bankstown Local Court in August. Footage of Ms Thomas circulating online showed her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken to hospital. All five protesters arrested during the scuffle were granted bail and four will appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15.
