Operation Kukri ran for a fortnight and was wrapped up last week after 18 search warrants were executed in Perth and Mandurah.

Oganised Crime Squad officers were backed up by specialist chemists from the Western Australian Chem Centre and the Police Forensics Division.

In the most dangerous cases Fire and Emergency Service’s Hazardous Materilas units were also called in.

Operation Kukri personnel worked around the clock and targeted known or suspected clan labs in private homes, rented apartments and remote bush sites.

On December 9 a search of a Wanjeep Road property uncovered numerous items consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine including acids, gas and other equipment.

A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with a string of offences including three counts of attempting to manufacture a prohibited drug, possession of amphetamine and cannabis and possession of a smoking implement.

David Jon Schuitema appeared in the Mandurah Magistrate’s Court on Friday but was not required to plead.

He was released on $3000 bail with a similar surety to reappear in court on January 12

Police will allege Schuitema was in company with another adult at the property as well as an eight-month-old baby at the time of the raid.

Seven drug labs uncovered as a result of Operation Kukri take the State’s number of ‘backyard’ clan laboratories shut down this year to 124.

In 2008 there were just 24 detected.

Serious and Organised Crime Division detective superintendent Charlie Carver said he was alarmed at the threat to public safety posed by clan labs, particularly in residential areas.

“The chemicals used by criminals in this extremely dangerous process are highly volatile and have been known to cause large explosions at houses and start bushfires in and around Perth,” supt. Carver said.

“One of the most dangerous is ammonia which is commonly used to manufacture crystal meth.

“We’ve even seen that stuff melt the inside of one of our own breathing masks.

“Imagine what that would do to the lungs of a young child living in the same house.”

Supt. Carver said children were the most vulnerable and innocent victims of this “insidious drug culture”.

He also said neighbours living near clan lab “time bombs” were also at risk.