Mounties in Burnaby, B.C., are investigating after an apparent ecstasy lab was discovered in a residential neighbourhood.

Police were alerted after a complaint of strong chemical smells coming from a house in the 100 block of Ellesmere Avenue.

Investigators obtained a search warrant and entered the home early Saturday morning, where they found a drug lab, apparently manufacturing ecstasy.

Three people, whose names have not been released, were arrested at the scene and are being held in police custody.

"This is a perfect example of how members of the public can be active in their community and assist the RCMP," said Burnaby RCMP Sgt. Scott Rintoul.

"This criminal operation represented a significant public safety risk not only to the surrounding Burnaby residents and their homes but to anyone who might have ingested something produced under these filthy conditions."

No 'good batch' of synthetic drugs

Police say the drug lab in the home is "substantial," and say it will likely take several days to safely dismantle it.

The Burnaby RCMP is being assisted by the RCMP Federal Clandestine Lab Team, specialist chemists from Heath Canada, the Burnaby Fire Department and members of the B.C. Ambulance Service while dismantling the lab.

"There is no such thing as a 'bad batch' of synthetic drugs, because there is no good batch," said Sgt. Duncan Pound with the RCMP Federal Drug Enforcement Branch in BC.

"Every single tablet represents a potentially serious health risk, whether short-term or long-term. This successful enforcement on the part of the RCMP Burnaby Detachment is significant and an important contribution to the RCMP’s national synthetic drug enforcement initiative."

A chemical additive in esctasy known as PMMA has been blamed for several deaths in B.C. and Alberta going back to last summer.