A drug lab was discovered in the industrial zone of Petach Tikvah about two weeks ago by a routine police patrol. Police detected a strong smell of marijuana, which led to police launching a probe. This probe led to evidence pointing to the involvement of four persons, residents of Elad, Betar Illit, Rehovot and Tel Aviv, ranging in age from 30-50.

Police raided the area and found the people involved in picking the crops. According to the investigation material, one of the participants planned to rent a property for the construction of the drug lab on Galis Street in the city, telling the owner that the place was required to develop a secret project that even the company’s employees were not supposed to know about.

Upon receipt of the property, the four established a cannabis habitat including advanced equipment including air conditioners, special lighting, transformers, fans, liquid tanks, pumps, flower pots and planters, drying apparatus, plants, fertilizers and garden tools.

Police report that during a period of over a half year, the four harvested 475kg (1,047 lbs.) of cannabis, with a value of over 28 million shekels.

The case has been turned over to the prosecutor by police to prepare criminal indictments.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)