Major investigation into Hull drugs lab uncovers criminal operation

A man responsible for operating a large-scale synthetic drugs laboratory inside a house in Hull has been sentenced to ten and a half years in prison following a highly complex organised crime investigation.

Radoslaw Golec, 37-years-old, of Eckington Road in Sheffield, appeared at Hull Crown Court on Friday, 19 June 2026 for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce class A MDMA and class B amphetamine, being concerned in the supply of class A MDMA and class B amphetamine, and possession of criminal property.

On Thursday, 13 November 2025, officers attended an address on Cavill Place in Hull, after concerns were raised around the repeated delivery of chemicals to the property.

When officers arrived, a man later identified as Golec, fled the scene before making off from the area. Contained within the property, officers discovered a large-scale synthetic drugs laboratory, complete with industrial equipment, chemicals and tools capable of producing significant quantities of class A and B drugs.

Due to the hazardous nature of the scene, a cordon remained in place for five days while specialist officers and partner agencies worked to assess, test and safely remove the chemicals before dismantling the laboratory.

Detectives also recovered substantial quantities of drugs from the property, including amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and mephedrone, tested by specialist Drugs Expert Witnesses, as well as approximately £14,800 in cash believed to be linked to criminal activity.

A pill press commonly used in the manufacture of MDMA tablets was also seized, with evidence showing the address had been actively used to produce synthetic drugs on a commercial scale.

As enquiries progressed, detectives uncovered evidence pointing to a much wider organised crime operation.

Mobile phones recovered from the search contained extensive communications linked to the purchase of specialist laboratory equipment from China using cryptocurrency. Evidence was identified showing thousands of pounds worth of equipment, mirroring those found in the laboratory, had been shipped to various addresses across the UK.

The investigation further revealed how courier services where allegedly used to move drugs around the country. Extensive evidence gathered through CCTV, parcel tracking information and messages recovered from mobile phones seized linked the deliveries to the wider supply network, including references to approximately 70kg of mephedrone worth £280,000.

Forensic enquiries from fingerprint evidence placed Golec inside the laboratory itself, including on the wall of the main production facility, while CCTV showed him attending the address almost daily.

Golec continued to evade arrest and remained wanted until he was traced to Sheffield where he was arrested by our specialist Kinetic Roads Crime and Kinetic Intervention Teams at a supermarket carpark on Thursday, 2 April 2026. A set of keys found whilst officers searched Golec led to a second property in Sheffield, where smaller quantities of suspected drugs, a label printing machine and a vacuum bag sealer were recovered.

He was taken into custody to be questioned where he was subsequently charged and remanded into custody. As part of the wider investigation, nine other individuals were arrested and remain on conditional bail at this time pending further enquiries.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Swaby said: “This was a highly complex investigation which uncovered a dangerous and improvised drugs lab operating on a significant scale, with a complete disregard for the risks posed to the public and neighbouring residents.

“Golec was motivated by greed and financial gain, producing and supplying harmful drugs with no concern for the devastating impact these substances have on individuals, families and communities.

“A huge amount of work was undertaken by dedicated officers from our Major Crime Team, supported by partner agencies including specialist officers and analysts, and involved hundreds of hours of investigative work alongside the examination of hundreds of exhibits to establish the full scale of the operation.

“This included specialist forensic examinations, the safe dismantling of the laboratory and removal of hazardous chemicals, as well as extensive evidential enquiries which ultimately enabled detectives to build a substantial case against Golec.

“While Golec may have believed he had all the ingredients for a successful enterprise, it ultimately collapsed when our officers uncovered the full scale of the criminality operating behind the scenes.

“Anyone involved in serious and organised crime can expect to be met with the full force of the law, as we continue to relentlessly pursue offenders, disrupt criminal operations, and bring those responsible before the courts.

“If you have any concerns around criminality in your area, please report this to us via our non-emergency number 101, or by speaking to your local officer and calling into your nearest police station.”

Alternatively, information can be reported anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.