Strange smell, white smoke reveal Eindhoven ecstasy lab

Stinky white smoke curling from a chimney led to the discovery of an ecstasy lab in Eindhoven on Sunday.

Passersby noticed the smoke on Rapenlandstraat and called the police around 10:00 a.m. Officers and firefighters agreed that the smelly smoke was suspicious and decided to search the building. Inside they found a large ecstasy lab in "full operation", according to the police. No one was in the building while it was searched.

A short time later the police arrested a 48-year-old man from Eindhoven. He is believed to be the owner of the property. The police can not yet say whether he was involved in the production of the lab. "But at least he has a lot to explain", the police said in a statement on their website.

Specialists performed an investigation at the lab before dismantling it. A "large amount" of chemicals were found.