Earlier this year, Gangs Squad detectives formed Strike Force Vanderhoof to investigate the activities of a group believed to be involved in drug manufacture.

Following their inquiries, detectives executed two search warrants at properties in Bingara on Sunday.

At one of the properties, located on Keera Street, officers found a clandestine laboratory which was actively in the process of cooking approximately 20 litres of MDMA.

Two men – a 52-year-old from the Sydney suburb of Telopea and a 50-year-old from Bingara – were arrested at the scene and taken to Moree Police Station.

At the second property, on Bowen Street, police seized approximately 20,000 MDMA pills, three pill-press machines and a large quantity of pre-cursor chemicals.

The search of the property was temporarily suspended due to the prevalence of hazardous materials. It has resumed on Monday.

The two men arrested at the Keera Street property were taken to Moree Police Station and charged with large commercial drug manufacture.

Both were refused bail and appeared in Moree Local Court on Monday, August 17. They have been remanded in custody to reappear in Moree Local Court on October 10, 2015.

The investigation by Strike Force Vanderhoof continues.