A Wollongong father did not tell police his Kenny Street shed had been converted into a potential drug lab, despite finding numerous items used to make amphetamines stored inside, a court has heard.
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Shane Anthony Egan allowed his mate to keep a cache of drug-making equipment in his back shed, including car batteries, hydrochloric acid and bags of powder, Wollongong Local Court was told yesterday.
When he discovered the items, Egan did not alert police, despite conceding he thought the equipment might be drug-related.
"I knew it had to be something to do with drugs ... it's probably a meth lab," he told officers.
Police searched the 27-year-old's home on August 2 and he immediately revealed there were some boxes in the shed that didn't belong to him.
Egan opened the shed door and police saw several items used in the manufacture of amphetamines, the court was told.
A fire brigade HazMat crew was called in and the shed was later declared safe. The NSW Police chemical operations team attended the next day and found a bounty of drug equipment inside the shed, including a steel tub with brown sludge, a grinder with white powder inside and several pipes.
Egan later told police a friend had phoned him and asked if he could keep some stuff in his garage. He said the mate had asked to store tools from his workshop.
"I didn't think nothin' of it and then I walked in there ... " he said.
During the search, police also found some speed in Egan's kitchen, which he admitted was his.
Egan pleaded guilty yesterday to one count each of possessing a prohibited drug, supplying drugs and possessing drug-manufacturing apparatus. Magistrate Michael Stoddart adjourned the matter for sentence to December 12.
