Two Inverell brothers wanted after two meth labs were uncovered near the town last year are behind bars in a NSW prison after being extradited from Queensland.
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Liam Jemerson Hoynes and Rhys Jemerson Hoynes face up to 15 years in jail after raids on properties in Inverell and Tingha in 2018 unearthed two large-scale clandestine drug labs.
The pair have been in custody for more than a year after they were captured in a police operation in Queensland in late June, 2018.
But they've only been charged now with the Inverell-related drug manufacturing allegations, after finally being transported back to NSW.
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Strike Force Clune - the secret police operation by New England detectives and the state's drugs and firearm squad - unearthed the large-scale meth labs in Mitchell Crescent in Inverell and Winterwood Road in Tingha.
Police allege the labs, which were discovered in April last year, were used to manufacture the drug ice and MDMA.
At the time, New England police claimed the drugs were destined for the local market.
More than 400 items, including drug precursors, glassware and documents, have been seized by police as part of the large-scale drug investigation.
The police operation took several days to dismantle the clan labs, with Fire and Rescue NSW crews called to back up forensic police, the chemical operations unit and local police.
The pair fled when the police operation unfolded.
Police made several public appeals for the brothers to hand themselves in.
In May last year, officers applied for and were granted arrest warrants in a Sydney court for the pair for manufacturing drug offences. They were then spotted in Queensland and arrested in late June that year.
After their matters were dealt with, New England police and the state crime command were notified, and applied to extradite them back to NSW to charge them with their outstanding warrants.
Strike Force Clune police travelled from Sydney to extradite the pair, after a Queensland magistrate approved their extradition.
After being transported in custody to Sydney, the pair appeared in Central Local Court but did not enter pleas.
Neither made any application for release, and it was refused by magistrate Clare Farnan.
The pair will remain in custody until at least December when their cases return to court. Police have been ordered to compile a brief of evidence.
The pair are each accused of manufacturing more than an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug - a charge that carries a maximum of 15 years behind bars, if convicted.
The two are also charged with possessing a precursor intended to be used for drug manufacture; possessing equipment to manufacture drugs; and receiving stolen property worth more than $5000.
Liam Hoynes is also charged with matters dating to 2017 and 2016. He was not required to enter pleas to charged of domestic violence-related common assault and two counts of destroying property; possessing an unauthorised firearm; having suspected stolen goods in custody; and larceny.