Police find amphetamine lab

POLICE claim to have uncovered an amphetamine lab and a large amount of cocaine in a series of raids on houses in the Brisbane Valley, Laidley District and Ipswich.

Two unlicensed firearms and a cross-bow were also seized as police laid charges against 21 people in a two-day drug operation.

Operation Sapphire, which concluded yesterday, involved police from Ipswich and Toowoomba.

Ipswich district Detective Inspector Mick Niland said 56 charges were laid, including charges of production and supply of amphetamine and supply and possession of marijuana.

“This is the result of good intelligence which was gathered by Ipswich police,” Insp Niland said.

“We also received important information through Crime Stoppers.”

Four of the state’s specialist drug-sniffing dogs were used in the raids – helping police track down a single one kilogram stash of marijuana at one residence and 4.7 grams of cocaine at another.

The 4.7 grams of cocaine allegedly found at a house at Regency Downs resulted in a major possession charge being laid against one man.

A man from Forest Hill, near Gatton, was charged with production and supply of a dangerous drug after police allegedly found a clandestine laboratory and a combination of chemicals used to make amphetamine at his home.

Others were charged with offences ranging from possession of drug utensils to possession of property used in the commission of a crime.

One person was returned to prison on a warrant. All will appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court later this month.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24 hours a day.