Drug awareness - Clandestine laboratories

Contrary to popular belief, the most widely known and used synthetic drugs are, for the most part, manufactured in Canada. The expression "clan lab" refers to any location where drugs are grown, manufactured or prepared. Clan labs are identified in three major categories:

• Extraction labs where the final product is extracted from raw materials (e.g. hash oil extracted from cannabis);
• Synthesis labs where substances are produced by way of chemical reaction (e.g. methamphetamine or MDMA (Ecstasy);
• Grow labs where crops, most commonly marihuana plants, are grown indoors. These operations are commonly referred to as indoor grow ops (there are also outdoor grow operations which are also potentially dangerous).

A clan lab in your neighbourhood?

Clandestine synthetic drug labs can be found anywhere: motel rooms, rental trucks, abandoned warehouses, apartments, garden sheds, residential garages, barns, car trunks and even truck boxes. These are all places that can be used to conceal clan labs.

Some types of production require very little equipment and external electrical supply. The location is chosen with no consideration given to the fact that toxic, volatile and explosive substances will be handled and processed by individuals who often have no scientific knowledge.

Clan labs are real time bombs, always synonymous to poisoned air, contaminated walls, toxic environments, fire and explosion hazards, and toxic wastes. These wastes are often disposed of in the sewer system and open fields.

What can I do?

Help from the public is important in the fight against illicit drugs and organized crime. Contact your local police or Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-711-1800 if you have any information on drug-related clandestine activities or if you observe signs of the presence of a clan lab.

Signs of the presence of a clan lab

Individually, the following signs may not be significant but if two or more are exhibited there may be cause for concern:

• The windows are covered or curtains always drawn.
• The occupants are unfriendly and appear secretive about their activities. They display paranoid or odd behavior e.g. watching cars suspiciously as they drive by.
• Inconsistent activity e.g. the occupants are always home or never home.
• There are frequent visitors, at odd hours, for short periods of time. They may park away from the house with one person waiting in the car.
• The house or premises have been outfitted with expensive security. "Beware of Dog" or "Guard Dog on Duty" signs are used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and avoid detection.
• Chemical odours such as solvents, acids, cat urine, licorice or skunk.
• The garbage contains chemical containers, bottles, metal drums, pots, wiring, soil or PVC piping. Boxes and containers with labels removed or spray-painted over.
• The occupants set out their garbage in another neighbour's collection area or wait for the arrival of the garbage truck before bringing their garbage to the curb.
• The occupants never put out any garbage for pick up.

Be careful!

Never approach a location where you suspect criminal activity is taking place. If you suspect the presence of any illegal drug activity in your community contact your local police or Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-711-1800.

Signs of an indoor marihuana grow operation

The fact that grow operations pose such an enormous threat to the health and safety of our communities (fire hazards, risk of violence, criminal activities in the area) means we all have a responsibility to be watchful for such activities. Although criminals take care to hide their operations, there are some signs you can look for:

• People entering the home usually go through the garage (to conceal activities).
• Extra vents or fans have been installed.
• Electrical equipment inside creates humming sounds.
• The hydro meter appears tampered with.
• There is condensation on windows due to high humidity levels inside.
• The windows are covered with dark plastic or newspaper.
• A skunk-like odour of growing marihuana can occasionally be detected outside.
• Unusual garbage: little or no garbage or unusual items (e.g. pots and soil, fertilizer containers, wiring, PVC piping, etc.).
• "Beware of Dog" sign may be used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and avoid detection.

Individually these signs do not indicate a grow op. However, if a neighbouring house exhibits two or more there may be cause for concern.

Pictures of clandestine laboratories dismantled by police

Date modified:

2018-04-10