Power cut uncovers Swiss ‘Breaking Bad’ style meth lab

A passer-by thought a burglary was in progress and informed the police. Keystone

Police discovered a crystal meth lab in an apartment in the canton of Zug thanks to a power cut. The sight of flashlights in the flat alerted a passer-by, who assumed a burglary was in progress, and reported it to the police. 

The incident occurred on the night of April 25 in the town of Oberägeri, said the Zug judicial authorities on Thursday. When the police arrived at the site, they surrounded the building and eventually apprehended the owner of the apartment in question. He had equipped himself with a flashlight because of the power cut. 

On further investigation, the police discovered a drug manufacturing laboratory and several containers of undefinable substances. Unknown liquids were found in a refrigerator and the cellar smelled of gasoline. Power was quickly restored as the chemicals were dangerous in an unrefrigerated state. A specialist company was mandated to dismantle the lab. The inhabitants of the building were asked to leave the premises during the clean-up, which lasted about ten hours. 

Forensics finally established that the lab discovered in the apartment was capable of manufacturing synthetic drugs including crystal meth. The owner of the apartment – a 41-year-old Norwegian – was remanded in custody. He faces criminal proceedings for manufacturing narcotics.