Girl, 6, found at P-laboratory site

A six-year-old girl was found at the scene of a methamphetamine laboratory, police say.

The Nelson property was raided by up to 12 police and armed offenders squad officers at 7.45pm yesterday.

The raid followed investigations into an alleged drug ring which have led to 18 people arrested during the past month.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wood said three people were arrested last night and a six-year-old girl removed from the property. Child, Youth and Family was called in.

"I think it's fair to say that all police involved are shocked at the fact that there was a child at the address," he said.

The property was next to Victory School and Mr Wood said it was fortunate it was school holidays.

"It's just a dangerous thing when you're linking a school and dangerous chemicals right next door," he said.

"The potential risk to young children does not bear thinking about."

The "highly volatile" nature of the chemicals required the fire service and St John ambulance staff to be put on standby during the search.

Police guarded the property overnight, and specialists were called in from Wellington and from Environmental Science and Research in Christchurch to dismantle the laboratory today.

Mr Wood said a 29-year-old man had been charged with conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine, also known as P. A 39-year-old man was facing the same charge, and a charge of breaching bail.

Both were due to appear in Nelson District Court today and police planned to oppose bail.

One of the men's partners, a 34-year-old woman, was due to appear in court on Friday to face charges of neglecting to provide a child with the necessaries of life and allowing premises to be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy said police had found about six methamphetamine labs in Nelson in the past two years but none were fully functioning.

- nzpa