Toronto Police, who described the meth and ecstasy lab on Sismet Rd. as the largest of its kind ever found in the GTA, have charged four people in connection with the case.
Police said they discovered drugs inside a car they recently pulled over in Etobicoke. After questioning the driver and other occupants, Toronto Police contacted Peel Regional Police and a joint investigation was launched, culminating in the 4 p.m. raid of an industrial location at 1645 Sismet Rd., Unit 13, near Dixie Rd. and Matheson Blvd.
"Complaints of suspicious activity taking place in and around this location had also been (made) from tenants," said Staff. Insp. Don Campbell of Toronto Police.
Officers went to the address and saw more than 80 drums of "unknown chemicals" and a large amount of equipment, characteristic of a large, clandestine laboratory, Campbell said.
While conducting the investigation, two additional units at the address, numbers 20 and 21, were discovered to contain a large ecstasy pill-pressing lab, police said.
"The units contained a large, industrial-sized pill-press and three smaller pill-presses," Campbell said. "A quantity of pills was found."
Police, along with the Mississauga fire department's Hazardous Materials Unit and other health officials, anticipate being on the scene until the weekend to fully dismantle the lab and make the area "...safe before the other tenants can return."
Campbell said it's fortunate that, with all the different chemicals at the site, an explosion didn't occur.
"The hazards associated with methamphetamine labs are enormous due to the unknown types of chemicals used," he said. "The health and safety of the public and all persons involved with this investigation is paramount."
Campbell said it's not yet known how much ecstasy and meth were produced. He would only say that it's "substantial."
Konstantinos Chalaidopoulos, 35, Ho-Won Tam, 47, both of Toronto, George Chalaidopoulos, 32, of Thornhill and Michel Berthiaune, 63, of Grandville, Quebec are charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Ecstasy is typically taken in pill form. Its effects are similar to those of amphetamines and hallucinogens. Distributed almost anywhere, it's popular at raves, night clubs and concerts.
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It's known by various street names including speed, meth, crystal meth and chalk.
Meth is produced by cooking a mixture of more than a dozen chemicals, including a cold remedy blended with iodine, ammonia, paint thinner and other lethal substances.
The drug-making process also produces unstable fumes, which can explode.
lrosella@mississauga.net
