Sophisticated meth lab run from 'inside prison', police say

Western Australia police have made a disturbing discovery in the war on meth after a sophisticated drug lab was uncovered in southern Perth.

A man, aged 37, is due to appear in court after drugs and firearms officers raided a home at Gunby Street, Maddington yesterday.

Following the raid, detectives are now concerned meth production in WA is becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Drug-making equipment inside the property revealed a meth manufacturing set-up known as 'P2P' - popularised in the TV series Breaking Bad.

Its precursor chemical is very hard to obtain, but the method produces far greater yields of meth than other production methods.

Illicit 'P2P' drug labs are widespread in the US and Mexico and other Australian states, but police are now worried it's coming to WA.

And detectives believe it is being run from a Perth prison by a "high profile" inmate.

The 37-year-old man from Maddington has been charged with attempting to manufacture a prohibited drug.

Police guarded the property overnight and have contained the scene.

The police investigation is continuing.