KEY POINTS:
Moves by Child Youth and Family (CYF) to remove children from a Christchurch house prompted the discovery of a suspected illicit methamphetamine laboratory in a van on a suburban street.
Police this morning converged on a vehicle parked in Aorangi Rd they suspected contained a P lab.
The police specialist clandestine laboratory investigation team has been summoned from Wellington to inspect the van and house tomorrow.
Detective Sergeant Greg Cottam, of Papanui police, said police called to help CYF remove four children from the property found glassware and chemicals consistent with illegal methamphetamine manufacturing.
Everyone was removed from the house under the provisions of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Mr Cottam told NZPA four children aged from two weeks to 13 years were taken into CYF care.
"They underwent a medical examination last night to see if they'd been exposed to chemicals," he said.
Further tests on the children were being done today.
A 35-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were to appear in Christchurch District Court today charged with possessing equipment for manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of firearms.
Police were considering laying further charges against the couple for endangering the children "dependant on what comes out of the examination tomorrow", Mr Cottam said.
"We're obviously extremely concerned, as we are with any suspicious clan lab where there's children involved," he said.
"Where children have been exposed (to dangerous chemicals) it causes us a great deal of concern."
- NZPA
