Bushfire starts after drug labs torched

Updated January 14, 2013 13:18:22

Drug squad detectives have arrested a father and son over two clandestine drug laboratories, after a bushfire swept through Sydney's south-west.

Police believe the laboratories, hidden in remote bushland at Camden and only accessible by foot, had been operating for years.

They say a fire was deliberately lit to destroy the labs last week, sparking a bushfire in the Blue Mountains National Park which destroyed 55 hectares.

A father and son were arrested last night and have been accused of making millions of dollars worth of the drug known as ice.

Police say the laboratories were capable of producing five-kilogram batches of the drug. A kilogram is worth up to $2 million.

Detectives began watching the men just before Christmas and had planned to raid the labs last Tuesday, but the hot weather and extreme fire danger stopped them.

The next day, police allege the 27-year-old son started the bushfire when he tried to destroy the drug labs.

"We don't know what tipped them to light the fire," said Acting State Crime Commander Peter Cotter.

"It will be our summation that they obviously became aware of our investigation - we're not sure how that happened."

The bushfire was only completely extinguished last night after six aircraft and ground crews worked on it.

Topics: drug-offences, bushfire, camden-2570

First posted January 14, 2013 11:10:37