This slide is covered, how to bust any clan lab. This lecture was prepared by me for the A & N Police Dept, Port Blair India.

1. Busting of Clandestine Labs
Shivendra Pratap Singh
Senior Scientific Assistant,
FSL, Port Blair

2. Clandestine Laboratories
• Clandestine laboratories are places where people
produce illicit and cheaps drugs using less
equipments more like household equipments and
hardwares. People who work there don't have any
scientific knowledge of the chemicals they are
producing.
• But now days many well educated chemical expert
are being indulged in this crime.

3. Types of clandestine
• The two most common types of clandestine labs are:
• Economic-based lab or "super lab” Large-scale,
highly organized labs generally tied to organized crime
where drugs are produced for the purpose of exporting
and distribution on the black market.
• Addiction-based lab or "user lab” Small-scale,
makeshift labs that generally produce just enough drugs
for use by themselves and their close associates.
There are like three types of people involved.
• Small scale operator
• Commercial operator
• Educated operator

4. Why people use these laboratories
reduction
Produce cheap quality of illicit drug
They can use household utensil to make illicit drug
 They produce new designer drug to exempt from
NDPS Act
Some make illicit drugs for personnel abuse

5. Possible locations of clandestine labs
Clandestine labs are often found in:
• Upscale single- and multiple-family dwellings
• Farms
• Rural properties
• Automotive shops
• Warehouses
• Car trunks
• Truck boxes
• The smaller labs, such as those in the trunk of a vehicle,
can be the most dangerous because of their simplicity
and portability. Criminals can mix the ingredients in
soda bottles that can become volatile and explosive.

6. How To Detect A Clan Lab
Signs of a clandestine lab
From outside
• Odours: Pungent smells, such as black licorice and ammonia or vinegar
acetic taste/odour.
• Windows: Covered, blacked out, or with the curtains always drawn.
• Vents: Staining around vent, extreme corrosion and/or unusual coloured
vapour emitting from vent.
• Security: Extensive security measures or attempts to ensure privacy
including cameras set-up, several locks on exterior doors, and "beware of
dog" signs.
• Garbage: Large quantities of chemical containers, bottles, metal drums,
fibre (cardboard) barrels, match sticks.
• Containers: Labels have been removed or spray painted over.
• Landscaping: Burn pits, stained soil, or dead vegetation indicating
dumped chemicals or waste.

7. • Automobile or foot traffic at all hours.
• People going outside the building only long enough to
smoke, especially at motels or during bad weather.
From inside
• Medication: Large amount of empty cold medication
containers containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
• Stains: Red stains on countertops, bathtubs or sinks/toilets.
• Glassware: Laboratory glassware and equipment including
cookware (Pyrex) or frying pans with powdery residue and
bottles with rubber tubing attached to other chemicals.
• Filters: Coffee filters with white pasty substances or shiny
white crystals (or reddish-brown substance).
• Kitty litter: Excessive amounts used to soak up chemicals
spills.

8. How Clan Labs Are Booby-
Trapped
• Booby traps are used by the cookers for warning and
protection. These traps can be triggered byany
normal movement, such as opening a door or
flipping on a switch. Unfortunately, any
unsuspecting person who stumbles onto a clan lab
site can lose an arm, a leg or a life.
Common booby traps include:
• Trip wires designed to set off alarms, explosive or
toxic chemical devices.
• Hidden pungee sticks. These are buried wooden
planks with large nails or spikes protruding upward.
• Light switches, refrigerators, VCRs or other electrical
appliances wired to explosive devices.

9. How Clan Labs Are
Transported
• Clan labs are usually portable and can be quickly disassembled and
moved to a new location.
• Be alert. “Cookers” or criminal-chemists move labs frequently to escape
detection, using freeways as well as rural and urban roads.
• Any type of size of vehicle may be used for transport. This includes pick-
up trucks, motor homes, cars and tractor-trailer rigs.
• Be aware. A vehicle carrying chemicals can be just as explosive and toxic
as a working lab. Drug cookers are often in a hurry and very careless when
they load up chemicals and lab equipment.
• Be careful. If you stop at an accident scene or are looking at an
abandoned vehicle, unusual chemical odors or visible laboratory type
equipment may be the only warning you get.
• Be suspicious. Discarded chemicals and equipment are hazardous.
Cookers often dump toxic waste or lab equipment anywhere. They don’t
care about the extreme danger and hazards to people, property or the
environment.

10. Dangers of a clandestine lab
•Clandestine labs pose great dangers to people who live near them, first responders,
and operators of the labs.
•Clandestine labs pose the following risks
•Fires and explosions due to solvents or a high concentration of gases
•Health consequences due to toxic chemicals
•Expelled gas from the lab getting mixed with the environment (e.g) phosphine
•Contaminated walls
•Contaminated well water
•Electrical hazards
•Chemicals that ignite when exposed to air or water
•Exposure to very strong drugs
•Leaking and/or damaged compressed gas cylinders
•Oxygen deficient or toxic atmospheres
•Damaged and leaking chemical containers
•Potential for booby traps

11. Chemicals Example of source Hazard property
Petroleum (toluene, xylene,
ether)
Toluol; xylol; starting fluid (ether);
Coleman camping fuel (mixture of
petroleum solvents)
Flammable liquids
Sodium hydroxide Drain cleaners and oven cleaners Corrosive base
Sulphuric acid car batteries (lead-acid batteries) Corrosive acid
Hydrochloric acid Toilet cleaner Corrosive acid
Lithium Lithium batteries Dangerous when wet
Red phosphorus Matchbox strike plates Flammable solid
Iodine Pharmaceuticals Corrosive
Anhydrous ammonia Agriculture cooperative Poisonous gas
Examples of frequently used chemicals and associated hazards in illegal drug
(meth) production;

12. Sources of Information/intelligence
• Informants
• Previous investigation or investigation against other gangs can
also provide clue about the illicit laboratories.
• Information may also be received from other agencies.
• Controlled delivery of precursor under diversions can also lead
to unearthing of clandestine laboratories.
• Undercover operation if possible under the law could be a very
good way of identifying illicit laboratories.
• Enforcement authorities contacts with the people supplying
glass ware for laboratories, chemicals and tabletting machine
may result in tip off leading to location of laboratories.
• Surveillance over suspects can also help in locating a
calndestine laboratory.

13. • Interception of communication/wire taping can be a
very useful tool for identification of illicit
laboratories.
• Watch over suspect premises could also help notice
certain unusual behavior of the part of occupants or
such activities which may be sure indicator for
existence of a laboratory.
• Check nearby area of Garbage.
• May be get samples of sewage water of suspect
premises tested to confirm suspicion about
laboratory.

14. Precaution during
Investigation of Clan Labs
• Must be protect yourself by PPE Kit.
• Chemical would be handled by those who are competent to do
so.
• No smoking drinking or eating should be permitted inside
laboratory.
• Should not touch eyes, mouth, nose.
• Should not touch chemicals and equipments.
• All windows and doors of the laboratory should be kept open
during the raid.
• Appropriate fire extinguishers should be kept handy.
• Hands must be washed properly after leaving the laboratory.

15. What to do if you encounter a clandestine
lab
• Evacuate the premises
• Do not touch or inhale anything
• Do not turn on or off electrical power switches or light
switches
• Do not open or move containers
• Do not disconnect power or water inside or to the
building
• Decontaminate yourself and your clothing and wash
your hands and face thoroughly

16. Investigation of Clan laboratory
• Take all angles of photographs/videograph.
• Be aware of booby traps like wires designed to set off
alarms, explosive or toxic chemical devices.
• Prepare sketch mentioned all equipment and other
articles.
• Evidence should be named, numbered etc.
• Should packed all samples in separate pouch or
container.
• Note all materials physical properties like solid liquid, gel
etc.
• After completion of investigation clan lab should be
dismantled.

17. Case Study-1

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Case Study-1

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20. Case Study-2

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22. Case Study-3

23. Case Study-4

24. Case Study-5

25. Case Study-6

26. Thank
You