Chapter 8 Detection and dismantling of illegal lab:

Chapter 8
Detection and dismantling of illegal lab:

Investigations to identify sources of supply of precursor chemicals
Illicit drug lab is the final destination of diverted precursor chemicals. The ultimate objective of all anti diversion strategies and efforts is to ensure that these chemicals do not reach these labs. However, criminals do manage to obtain these precursor chemicals for their labs. Hence detection a dismantling of these labs is next logical step to stop drugs form coming into existence in the first place.

Many such labs have been detected in India. India licenses its farmers to cultivate opium on the precondition that they tender the entire opium to the govt. Unscrupulous farmers divert a portion of the opium some of which is processed into heroin, several make shift clandestine heroin labs have been busted in the opium growing regions by Indian authorities.
Enforcement agencies have also discovered several failed pharmaceutical units engaged in the illicit manufacture of methaqualone in India. Since there were several attempts to divert precursors in SAARC region no country in the region can remain complacent. Locating these labs is a challenge as rarely does one stumble upon such labs .usually action starts on the basis of information, which must be processed into actionable intelligence. Raids on suspect illicit labs require meticulous planning as valuable evidence can collected during the operations about the source of the precursor chemicals. The first aspect to be borne in mind while planning an operation is the safety of the officers.

Risk factors:
Armed criminals engaged in counter surveillance often guard these labs. Raiding parties run the risk of being attacked by these criminals.
In some western countries labs have been sound protected by sophisticated devices like booby traps, dogs high voltage locked doors and remote controlled video cams/ the use of such devices by criminals in the India cannot be ruled out. Many of the chemicals used in these labs are hazardous and officers risk accidents while handling them.
Officers unprotected by masks may inhale large volumes o f toxic gases.
If their skin comes in contact with some of these chemicals it can suffer burns
Inhalation of fumes of some of the chemicals or the penetration of chemicals into skin can cause cancer
Spillage of different chemicals during sampling may lead to release of toxic or explosive gases
Absence of separate stacking of incompatible chemicals in illicit labs may even cause explosions if such chemicals get mixed up during the raid
While opening barrels of chemicals, concentrated gases my be released which can damage skin eyes
Because of the very nature of the operations illicit labs generally do not label the containers of chemicals. As the officers may not know the properties of the unidentified chemicals that are kept mishaps may occur while handling them
Mishandling of chemicals may lead to fires / explosions during raids. Raiding party should had atleast one member who is qualified to handle these chemicals
Very often the illicit labs have slippery floors
Illicit labs use old and unreliable regulators or cylinders
Criminals my throw chemicals on the raiding party
Faulty electric equipment in such factories can electrocute the officers

Sources of information:
Informants who are gang members
Vigilant neighbours can also take cognizance of unusual activities in the premises of the lab and alert authorities. Labs may generate excessive heat. Fumes may also emanate form them. The processes carried on in the labs may also emit strong odour. Persons working in the labs may come out often to smoke as they wouldn’t do so inside for fear or explosion. Such activities do arouse suspicion of watchful citizens who may report the happenings to the enforcement department. Taking cue from these hints enforcement officers can mount surveillance and come to their own conclusion if the premises have a lab.
Previous investigations against other gangs may also provide clues about illicit labs. Interrogations of bulk buyers of the drugs may also lead to identification of the labs.
Information may also be received from other agencies.
Controlled delivery of precursor chemicals under diversion can lead to location of clandestine labs
Undercover operations if permissible under the law could be very good way of identifying illicit labs
Enforcement authorities contacts with the people supplying glass wares for labs chemicals and tablet machines may result in a tip off leading to location of labs
Surveillance over suspects can also help in locating a illicit lab
Interception of communication/ wire tapping can be a very useful tool for identification of labs

Watch over suspect premises could also help in noticing certain unusual behavior on the part of the occupants or such activities which may sure indicators for existence of a lab
Garbage consisting of empty bottles carrying labels of the precursor chemical in villages could be a giveaway of the existence of the lab somewhere nearby.
Authorities may also get the samples of sewage water of the suspect premises tested to confirm suspicion about a lab working inside. There can be many more indicators to show presence of clandestine lab which experienced enforcement officers can interpret.

Plan a raid:
Risk factors:
Best approach
Best time
Estimate of resistance and precautions and firepower
What chemicals may be found and how to handle them

Logistics:
Control center
Vehicle assembly place
Leader of raiding party and assign functions to team members.
Assess need for scientists chemists in team
assess and carry equipment needed
precautions for fire hazard and chemical hazard
container for samples
transportation for seized chemicals
carry chemicals and fire protective gear

Precautions for members of team:
chemicals should be handled by those who are competent to do so
nobody should smoke or drink or eat inside the lab
officers should not touch their eyes mouth and nose while in the lab
if any chemical affects any member of the raiding party during the raid he should be removed from the spot and given first aid and proper medical attendance
hands must be washed properly after leaving the lab
all windows and doors of the lab should be kept open during the raid
equipment that may cause fire/ explosion due to flammable gases should not be allowed inside the lab
appropriate fire extinguishers should be kept ready

Entry:
apprehend
Arrest.
Collect material
Collect samples
Remove causes for fire explosion
Ensure ventilation
Switch of electricity if needed
Stop production
Locate and secure chemicals

Collecting evidence:
The recovery memo should clearly describe the premises.
Location and details of apparatus chemicals found inside and the process of manufacturing being carried out. Photos may be taken or the operation should be video taped both of which should also include the witnesses. This document which is prepared on the post would be as graphic as possible. during trail it is through this document that can visualize the actual position of the lab

Label equipment, labeling machines, chemicals along with containers and other evidence should be named, numbered and inventoried. The list should relate them to the description given in recovery memo and annexed to it.

The original make and numbers of equipment and apparatus be clearly indicated in the list so that they can be correlate to the supplier during the follow-up investigation
Samples should be taken from all drugs chemicals and products whether intermediate or final found in the lab as per the prescribed procedure. Reports of analysis of these drugs chemicals can be of great assistance during investigation and prosecution. such reports of may also help in identifying the source of precursor chemicals
Attempt should be made to collect all available evidence
Labels if removable from the empty bottles of chemicals should be collected and seized
Barcodes on the barrels should be noted and brought on record
Samples of chemical wastes / scattered waste products should be collected, if necessary, chimneys drains may be scraped to lift traces. Filters should also be seized
If the lab is a sophisticated one and computers/ software are available, the same should be seized. Examination of these items can later on provide good evidence about the lab functioning its turnover, source of supply of chemicals and also clues about dealings of the operators with other persons involved in trafficking
fingerprints may also be lifted from the equipment barrels to find evidence of involvement of persons not found on the spot during the raids
Belongings such as shoes, clothes, gloves and safety masks of the persons working in the lab may also be seized. Traces of chemicals / drugs embedded in these belongings established through proper chemical analysis can be very good pieces of evidence against these persons.
Stamps used in the tablet machines should be seized. tablets stamped by them can be correlated to them
Dismantling the lab
Follow-up action
Find out
Persons actively involved in running the lab
Other persons connected with the illegal activity
Source of the precursor chemicals
Source of the drug that is refined
Buyers and destination of the final product of the lab
Intensive interrogation.
Verify information so obtained

Follow up searches
Analysis of the information obtained
Code deciphering if any
Evidence and case build up