Arrest reminder to be vigilant to P labs - police

The arrest of a man in Cambridge following the discovery of a P lab was a reminder to the public to be aware of drugs in their community, police say.

A 32-year-old man was due to appear in Hamilton District Court today for a bail hearing following his arrest for manufacturing methamphetamine and possessing pre-cursor chemicals when police searched a flat above shops in the town's CBD.

The lab's discovery was a reminder that drugs weren't just a metropolitan problem, but also existed in small towns and rural communities, Sergeant Gordon Grantham said.

Police were grateful to hear from locals reporting suspicious activity or behaviour.

"With the public's help, we can reduce victimisation and the serious levels of harm illicit drugs cause to our communities," Mr Grantham said.

Possible indicators of a clandestine drug operation included chemical odours, high volumes of traffic, blacked-out windows or drawn curtains, he said.

The occupants may be unfriendly, secretive and paranoid and refuse access to landlords or neighbours.

They could have expensive security on the property and rubbish containing discarded medicine containers and horticultural supplies.

- NZPA