Clan Lab found - Hector, West Coast

At about 3.40pm on the 9th of April 2010, Police executed a Search Warrant at an address in Hector, on the West Coast.

During the search, a number of items consistent with a clandestine laboratory, or P-Lab, were located inside the address.

Subsequently neighbouring addresses were evacuated, and the Police Clandestine Laboratory Unit together with staff from the ESR attended the scene from Wellington.

During this time Fire Service staff from Granity and the Hazardous Materials Unit in Nelson also attended and assisted Police, due to the high potential for fire and/or explosions associated with clandestine laboratories.

An examination was carried out of the address by the Clan Lab Unit & ESR staff in the early hours of the 10th of April, resulting in the house being declared safe, and the items were not part of a clandestine laboratory set-up.

Clan Labs pose a serious threat to not only the occupiers of any house, but also the neighbours and surrounding area, as well as long-term contamination issues for the house. They are certainly not wanted on the West Coast, or any other area in the country.

Members of the public are encouraged to notify Police of any unusual smells of odours coming from addresses, so that these can be checked out.

Police are continuing their enquiries to locate the occupiers of the address so that they can be spoken to in regards to other matters.