Clandestine drug lab fire suspicious

Police were guarding a clandestine drug lab in rural South Auckland when it burnt down this morning.

Officers executed a search warrant yesterday afternoon at the property in Porchester Rd, Takanini.

They found a drug lab in an outbuilding and immediately cordoned off the scene and called in specialist officers and ESR forensic experts, said Detective Senior Sergeant Albie Alexander.

The scene examination started yesterday and was to continue this morning. Officers were posted to guard the site overnight, he said.

However, at 6am the building caught fire.

Investigators were still at the scene and had not yet determined the exact cause of the blaze but were treating it as suspicious.

During yesterday's search two stolen vehicles and other stolen property was found at the address.

A number of people were being spoken to in connection with the inquiry, Mr Alexander said.

- NZPA