Dressed in haz-mat gear, the OPP raided an Essa trailer park Tuesday afternoon and seized dangerous chemicals used to create methaphetamines.

Nottawasaga OPP brought the Provincial Emergency Response Team, and local fire and ambulance crews to the mobile home on the 25th Sideroad south of County Road 90 near the 10th Line.

There, they seized amphetamines, marijuana, cannabis resin (hashish) and chemicals that were likely going to be used for a meth lab. The street value of the drugs was $7,000.

“We dismantled the lab and seized the equipment and chemicals. The lab wasn’t operating yet, so we stopped it,” said Insp. Dave Farrar, Nottwasaga OPP Commander.

He said even though a meth lab wasn’t running at the time, the chemicals seized are still dangerous by themselves.

“We’ve sent the chemicals to Health Canada to be examined,” he said.

Three people have been arrested and charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking; a 33-year-old Barrie woman, a 48-year-old Barrie man and a 33-year-old Essa man. They are set to appear in court Sept. 18.

E-mail reporter Janis Ramsay at  jramsay@simcoe.com