Lithuanian police uncovered one of the Baltic region's largest synthetic drug laboratories, confiscating more than 500kg of methamphetamine, over 300kg of amphetamine and thousands of liters of chemicals during a three-day raid near Vilnius.
Investigators say a Dutch national of Turkish origin directed the lab with assistance from three Lithuanian citizens, running an international supply network that produced synthetic drugs on an industrial scale.
"[Drugs] were being produced on an almost industrial scale," Saulius Briginas, Deputy Chief of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, told journalists on Wednesday.
Police recovered over 3,000 liters of BMK, a precursor for amphetamines, together with more than 500kg of methamphetamine, over 300kg of amphetamine and about 4.5kg of the synthetic drug 3-CMC. Briginas said the haul could yield more than 4 million individual doses.
The seized drugs have an estimated wholesale value exceeding €2 million, while their street value could be ten times higher, he added.
Authorities believe the operation aimed to supply markets across Europe, targeting the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
Investigators traced the procurement of lab gear and chemicals to China, India and several European nations, noting some uncontrolled substances were bought from specialist suppliers in Lithuania.
Police found 380 hydrogen cylinders from China at the site; hydrogen is used in synthetic drug manufacturing, and the group also bought sulphuric acid in one-ton shipments.
The probe also led to the interception of a cargo bound for the Czech Republic, where officers discovered 17kg of amphetamine crystals hidden in two plastic containers handled by a Lithuanian logistics firm.
Under Lithuanian law, illegal production, possession and smuggling of large quantities of narcotic or psychotropic substances can carry prison terms of up to 18 years.
