KINGLAKE, VIC. — VIPER Taskforce police yesterday arrested two Kinglake residents after locating a clandestine laboratory during a routine Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance search.
Police attended the Kinglake address at 10.30am yesterday, Sunday, December 21 and located glassware, what appears to be methylamphetamine (mdma), hypophosphorous acid and a substance that was crystallising in a jug.
A 56-year-old Kinglake man and a 36-year-old Kinglake woman – who were not named by police – were taken into custody at Seymour as detectives from the Clandestine Laboratory Squad deployed to the Kinglake meth lab.
It is understood that the man and woman live directly opposite the Kinglake Football Oval (Extons Road) “just near Glen Dawson’s old place” and have “broken every [Murrindindi Shire] council law” and live in an old bus under the high tension power lines that connect Lake Eidlon’s hydro-electric system to the Thomastown (Melbourne) sub-station.
A Kinglake source told VicNews off the record that “he’s been there a few years and I [thought] something was up.”
“He’s been living in an old bus and putting shipping containers on the land for at least three years.
“He’s also cleared land and felled trees without council approval on numerous occasions.
“They’re a strange unit,” the source told VicNews.
The Kinglake man was charged with possessing methylamphetamine and will appear at court at a later date.
The Kinglake woman was arrested for possession of methylamphetamine and is expected to be charged on summons.
Several police vehicles and officers remain on the scene.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
This report was updated with new information from a Kinglake source at 4:45pm AEDT, December 22, 2025.
