Heat goes on Clan Lab staff

The Pacific paradise of Fiji was no tropical holiday for members of the Clan Lab team tasked with dismantling a vast methamphetamine operation in Suva.



As part of Operation Outrigger/Lantern, four New Zealand Clan Lab team members from Waikato, Auckland and Northland had to endure searing temperatures and extremely dangerous conditions as part of their three-week task.


Operation Lantern/Outrigger involved a Malaysian-based transnational crime group setting up one of the largest production houses in the Southern Hemisphere with the potential to produce 1000kgs of ‘ice’ methamphetamine.

Early intelligence dating back to 2001 and close cooperation between a number of police jurisdictions spanning Hong Kong, Fiji, the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand resulted in the termination of the organised crime group’s operations on 9 June this year.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Potaka, Intelligence Manager, says the Clan Lab staff did a thoroughly professional job in extremely trying circumstances.

The staff worked with four New Zealand ESR scientists at the warehouse site, which had notional hot, warm and cold zones – depending on the level of danger or risk associated with different parts of the site.

“This job was particularly dangerous,” says Dave. “It was excessively hot and the chemicals were not being kept in the most appropriate conditions. Everything inside the warehouse was contaminated in some way by the chemicals and process used.”

On a day-to-day basis, Clan Lab staff would start at 8am by airing the warehouse for an hour while getting their kit together, making sure everything was working and ensuring the local fire department was on site. Work would finish at 5pm.

Through the day, the team would work for hour-long stretches and then come out to open air to rest and replenish their fluids. Each time they came out, the fire service washed them down as part of the decontamination process.

It was estimated each member was losing between 3 – 5 litres of fluids each day, requiring them to drink up to 5 – 6 litres of water through the day and topping up with more after work.

Among their tasks was the literal breaking down of the site and its equipment, washing it and the double sampling of 130 40-gallon drums to determine the chemicals in them. A large fibreglass ‘scrubber unit’ had to be cut up for disposal, using a skill saw with a stone-tipped blade – all in 35+ degree heat while wearing layers of protective clothing and breathing apparatus.

When taking photos for exhibits staff had to keep a close eye on a chemical metre to ensure the camera flash didn’t ignite the chemicals.

“But the attitude was very much one of let’s get on with this and get things done,” says Dave. “Everyone knew each other’s capabilities, they realised the dangers and knew they had a big job to do.”

Standard operating procedures were adapted due to the size of the operation and an overall plan and daily plan were adhered to.

“They reasoned it all out and were totally focussed on what they were doing. Admittedly, there were some grumpy times and we knew then it was time for some time off.”

During the three weeks of dismantling, the team took two days off.

“Everyone was keen to get home,” says Dave