Man charged following discovery of 'meth lab like something out of Breaking Bad' in Ballymena has case sent to Crown Court
A man charged over the discovery of a 'meth lab' in Ballymena which a judge said was like something out of an episode of 'Breaking Bad', has had his case sent to the Crown Court.
Tomas Sujan (40), formerly with an address given as Queen Street in Ballymena but now listed as in Belfast, was arrested following the discovery of a drug production laboratory at a property on April 2 last year.
He is charged with being concerned in the production of methamphetamine; possession of a prohibited weapon - CS spray; obstructing police; and possession of cannabis, tramadol and buprenorphine.
He appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 5.
A court was previously told the defendant injured himself whilst jumping from a height at a property when police arrived on April 2.
At the earlier court, District Judge Peter King had said it was alleged drug offending on "an industrial scale" and added: "The paraphernalia including the weaponry is more akin to something you would watch on an episode of 'Breaking Bad' than you would deal with in a magistrates' court in north Antrim".
Opposing bail at the earlier court, a PSNI officer said that on Wednesday, April 2 police on mobile patrol spotted the defendant coming out of an address at Queen Street. He was carrying a black bag.
He was stopped and searched and thousands of strips of “Sudafed" were recovered which, the officer said, are a "precursor" for the production of Class A drugs and there was also a quantity of suspected white tablets.
A subsequent search of the address was carried out and entry was gained by using a key attached to the defendant's car keys.
Plastic fast food cartons in the living room contained "thousands of suspect white tablets".
There was also a holdall containing "a gas mask, white suits and various chemicals which police suspect had been used in the production of Class A drugs".
The officer added: "There was also a large volume of chemicals and equipment which were giving off strong smells and gases".
The defendant had asked if he could use the bathroom and jumped out of the window and attempted to make off across a roof. He was caught a short distance away.
The officer added: "Given the chemicals and the strong smell of gas police sealed off the house and awaited hazardous material experts to make the house safe and continue the search".
Also found was equipment, chemicals and powders used in the production of methamphetamine.
An "inflated balloon attached to tubing" was in the living room which they suspected was being used to catch "hazardous off-gases whilst cooking the methamphetamine".
The officer said an expert said it posed a "serious risk to life" to anyone in the property or nearby as if it had been damaged or deflated "it could have been catastrophic".
The officer said the defendant is a Slovakian national.
At Thursday's Court the accused was given continuing bail in the sum of £500 and there is also a bail surety of £1,000.
The defendant has to report three times a week to police; his passport and travel documents have to remain with police; he must not leave Northern Ireland without the permission of the court; he must not be in possession of any device capable of accessing the internet.
He is under a 10pm-7am curfew and is electronically tagged.
The case was adjourned to Antrim Crown Court for arraignment on April 16.