Two arrested in cocaine bust

Police have arrested two people and shut down a cocaine lab in an east Hamilton apartment building.

A hazardous materials company helped with the clean up Wednesday after police found cocaine in a 6th floor apartment on Quigley Road. Police seized close to $50,000 worth of cocaine, as well as cash and marijuana. They also found large industrial cleaners containing acetone and hydrochloric acid. Investigators say the unit was home to a cocaine extraction lab where the drug was made.

People in the building were both surprised and concerned. “We were sitting in my house and hear really load bangs, and we thought it was just construction out back, and then we say them pulling red drums out of the apartment.”

“I was out having a smoke and I heard a flash bang, they next thing I know there are cops everywhere”

“Oh, ya we got kids here, it’s scary right?”

“It used to be a rough neighborhood, but it’s been pretty clean.”

Evelio Jesus Lopez, 41, of Hamilton, and Samir Hernandez, 35, of Toronto, are facing several drug-related charges.

Video: Sean Cowan reports on the discovery: