Three men are facing serious drug charges after police raided an inner-city Wellington commercial premises suspected of being a major drug lab.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch says powder, pills, chemicals and equipment, including a pill press, were found during the search on Friday.
Police believe the party drug ecstasy was being made at the site.
"This is a full-scale commercial operation," he said.
"We believe it was set up to distribute thousands of pills at upcoming music festivals over the New Year period."
Three 22-year-old men from the Hutt Valley and Wellington will appear in Wellington District Court on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Wellington woman is facing drug charges after police seized a package containing $60,000 worth of MDMA, the pure form of ecstasy.
Customs intercepted a package with 330g of the drug being sent to a Wellington post office box number from a North American address.
The woman was due to appear in Wellington District Court on Friday.
Police said further search warrants and interceptions are likely in the next two weeks.
NZN