Three people were arrested this weekend after the Burnaby RCMP drug section took down a suspected clandestine synthetic drug lab in the 100 block of Ellesmere Avenue in North Burnaby.
Police received a complaint about strong chemical smells coming from the home and after Burnaby RCMP called in the federal drug enforcement clandestine lab team for assistance, they obtained a search warrant Saturday to enter the residence.
According to Sgt. Duncan Pound of the RCMP's federal drug enforcement branch, investigators confirmed the presence of the lab and safely secured the premises until a specialized clean-up team arrived.
"The synthetic drug lab in the residence is substantial," Pound said in a press release. He added the cleanup of the suspected ecstasy lab would take two or three days to dismantle safely.
Also helping in the effort are specialty chemists from Heath Canada, the Burnaby Fire Department and members of the British Columbia Ambulance Service.
"This is a perfect example of how members of the public can be active in their community and assist the RCMP," said Sgt. Scott Rintoul of the Burnaby RCMP. "This criminal operation represented a significant public safety risk not only to the surrounding Burnaby residents and their homes but to anyone who might have ingested something produced under these filthy conditions."
"There is no such thing as a 'bad batch' of synthetic drugs, because there is no good batch," said Pound. "Every single tablet represents a potentially serious health risk whether short term or long term. This successful enforcement on the part of the RCMP Burnaby detachment is significant and an important contribution to the RCMP's national synthetic drug enforcement initiative."
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