Toronto police responding to a possible home invasion Friday found an alleged ecstasy lab instead, and it may have produced millions of dollars worth of the drug.
Officers donned hazmat suits before entering the Scarborough house, which also may have been used to grow marijuana.
"There was a large, ecstasy lab here. The actual cooking of the ecstasy wasn't done here -- the pressing of it was done here," said Insp. Don Campbell.
"We have seized approximately 40 kilograms of product, including raw product."
Dismantling equipment inside the home, located at 267 John Tabor, was expected to take hours.
"It's quite dirty in there, quite filthy," said Campbell. "And people who get that type of drug don't know what they're taking."
Campbell said police located several bags of unknown chemicals they believe to be ecstasy, but the substance will have to be tested before it can be conclusively identified.
The alleged lab was reportedly discovered after someone called police to report a break-in at the address.
Police say the tip may have come from a rival criminal group who first looted the home.
In addition to the Toronto police drug squad, the fire department, emergency medical services, and Health Canada were on the scene.
Campbell said illegal drug operations are extremely dangerous because the contents of the final product aren't known.
"We always worry about these kind ... of laboratories because how do we know what product is going in there?" Campbell said.
"This isn't candy -- it's a drug that's being mixed. We don't know who's mixing the drug and we don't know what the strength is."
The house had been unoccupied for at least six to eight months.
So far, police haven't arrested any suspects in connection with the alleged operation.
With a report from CTV's Jim Junkin
