A scene guard was in place for five days as the operation ‘posed significant risks to officers and neighbouring residents’
The man behind a large-scale synthetic drugs laboratory inside a house in Hull that “shocked even experienced detectives” has been jailed. A scene guard remained in place for five days while the factory was examined and safely dismantled as it “posed significant risks to officers and neighbouring residents”.
Radoslaw Godec, 37, fled when police attended the address in Cavill Place in November last year after concerns had been raised about frequent deliveries of chemicals to the property. Inside, officers found a large-scale synthetic drugs lab complete with industrial equipment, chemicals and tools capable of producing Class A and B drugs on a “commercial scale”.
Godec, of Eckington Road, Sheffield, admitted conspiracy to produce class A MDMA and class B amphetamine, being concerned in the supply of class A MDMA and class B amphetamine, and possession of criminal property. Appearing at Hull Crown Court, he was jailed for ten-and-a-half years.
As well as the laboratory equipment, in the house detectives discovered “substantial” quantities of amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and mephedrone, tested by specialist Drugs Expert Witnesses, as well as approximately £14,800 in cash believed to be linked to criminal activity. A pill press commonly used in the manufacture of MDMA tablets was also seized.
Police investigations uncovered evidence pointing to a wide organised crime operation. Mobile phones seized during the search revealed extensive communications relating to the acquisition of specialist laboratory equipment from China using cryptocurrency. Evidence showed that thousands of pounds worth of equipment, identical to those discovered in the laboratory, had been delivered to multiple addresses throughout the UK.
The investigation also uncovered how courier services were allegedly utilised to transport drugs across the country. Substantial evidence collected through CCTV footage, parcel tracking data and messages retrieved from confiscated mobile phones connected the deliveries to the broader supply network, including mentions of approximately 70kg of mephedrone valued at £280,000.
Forensic analysis of fingerprint evidence positioned Golec within the laboratory itself, including on the wall of the main production area, while CCTV footage showed him visiting the premises almost every day.
Golec remained wanted until he was located in Sheffield, where he was arrested in a supermarket car park on April 2. A set of keys discovered when officers searched Golec led to a second property in Sheffield, where smaller amounts of suspected drugs, a label printing machine and a vacuum bag sealer were found.
He was detained for questioning before being formally charged and remanded in custody. In connection with the broader investigation, a further nine people were arrested and are currently on conditional bail while enquiries continue.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Swaby of Humberside Police, said: “This was a highly complex investigation which uncovered a dangerous and improvised drugs lab operating on a significant scale, with a complete disregard for the risks posed to the public and neighbouring residents.
“Golec was motivated by greed and financial gain, producing and supplying harmful drugs with no concern for the devastating impact these substances have on individuals, families and communities. A huge amount of work was undertaken by dedicated officers from our Major Crime Team, supported by partner agencies including specialist officers and analysts, and involved hundreds of hours of investigative work alongside the examination of hundreds of exhibits to establish the full scale of the operation.
“This included specialist forensic examinations, the safe dismantling of the laboratory and removal of hazardous chemicals, as well as extensive evidential enquiries which ultimately enabled detectives to build a substantial case against Golec. While Golec may have believed he had all the ingredients for a successful enterprise, it ultimately collapsed when our officers uncovered the full scale of the criminality operating behind the scenes.
“Anyone involved in serious and organised crime can expect to be met with the full force of the law, as we continue to relentlessly pursue offenders, disrupt criminal operations, and bring those responsible before the courts. If you have any concerns around criminality in your area, please report this to us via our non-emergency number 101, or by speaking to your local officer and calling into your nearest police station.”
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