Charges have been laid after illicit drugs were allegedly seized and a clandestine laboratory located following a road safety operation on the South Coast. Photo: File.
A random vehicle stop on the NSW South Coast has allegedly led to the discovery of a clandestine drug laboratory in a Bega home.
Just after 7 pm on Saturday 30 October 2021, officers attached to the South Coast Police District stopped a white Toyota sedan on Newton Road, Bega, as part of proactive road safety duties relating to Operation Chrome.
The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test and returned a negative result.
Following further inquiries, police searched the 33-year-old man and allegedly located a small blade and cocaine.
They then searched his vehicle and uncovered three resealable bags allegedly containing 47g of cannabis in the front passenger seat area, as well as drug paraphernalia inside the boot.
A roadside drug test allegedly returned a positive result for cannabis, cocaine and methylamphetamine (ice). The results will undergo further analysis.
The man was arrested and taken to Bega Police Station.
After further inquiries, officers executed a search warrant at a home at Elbe Street, Bega, from 11:45 pm on Saturday night.
During the search, police allegedly located a clandestine laboratory inside the premises, and seized items consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs.
A crime scene was established, before being examined and dismantled by detectives attached to the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Team on Sunday 31 October 2021.
During the examination, police allegedly located further prohibited drugs including LSD, cannabis, magic mushrooms and a powder believed to be heroin.
Subsequently, a further search of the premises was conducted by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment on Wednesday 3 November 20210. The search allegedly resulted in the seizure of a number of plants suspected to be related to the investigation.
All items and substances will undergo further forensic examination.
The man has now been charged with possess tablet press or drug encapsulator, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, cultivate prohibited plant, two counts of possess prohibited drug, and supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity).
The Bega man appeared at Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, where he was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 23 November 2021.
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