TWO people have been arrested after police busted what they believe to be a crystal meth lab earlier today.

Police tape blocked off a residence along the 4700 block of Scott Ave., a couple of police cars were parked nearby and two fire department trucks arrived on scene to clean up any contamination.

“These types of synthetic drug labs are very volatile,” said Terrace RCMP Staff Sgt. Eric Stubbs, adding these labs are a public safety issue.

Residences next door were at risk of damage if the lab had exploded, and that includes a day care close by, he said.

At 10 a.m., police executed a search warrant whereupon they found what they believe to be a synthetic drug lab in the basement of the residence.

Although two people have been arrested, no one has been formally charged yet, said Stubbs.

Police can't confirm what the individuals made in the lab but police suspect it to be crystal meth, he said.

The bust was a result of an investigation that officers had been working on for some time, he added.

Although the lab is considered to be a small one, it was capable of producing daily amounts of drugs, Stubbs said.

He would not offer any more information about the two arrested people, such as their ages or gender, except to say that the arrests went smoothly and that one or both owned the house.

A number of drug labs exist in the Northwest, such as the meth lab on Lazelle Ave. that came to light after it caught fire in 2004; however synthetic drug labs aren't as prevalent as marijuana grow ops, Stubbs said.

Police will continue to investigate to ensure they have proper evidence which could take longer than today, he said.

If the public has any information about drugs labs in their area, they are asked to call the police here or the local detachment in their community.

(posted July 29 at 4:33 p.m.)