Cement mixers have been used in squalid conditions to create a form of synthetic cannabis that was "like playing Russian roulette" for end users, a Queensland detective says.

Police yesterday raided 10 properties at Rockhampton, the Gold Coast and Capalaba on Brisbane's bayside, that they believed were part of a synthetic drug syndicate.

Detective Inspector Jon Wacker said officers also targeted drugs being sold in herbal shops, marketed as legal highs.

They seized almost $500,000 worth of cannabinoids and ingredients used in their production.

Inspector Wacker said finding cement mixers being used in illicit drug production was a first for Queensland police.

"This is an upcoming trend. It's the first time we've seen cement mixers used — probably just goes to show the volume of product being produced," he said.

Police found plant material and a chemical precursor were being added to three cement mixers and Inspector Wacker said there would be no way of telling what mix the end product contained.

"It could be from the top of the cement mixer or the bottom of the cement mixer," he said.

"In some cases the plant material has been sprayed by a pump sprayer so it depends where that product comes from.

"This product was then dried in the back of a black van. It's like playing Russian roulette and one of these days your luck is going to run out because the chemicals are mixed throughout."

He said police were still battling the perception that synthetic cannabis was safe to consume.

"Ten deaths have been attributed to synthetic cannabinoids in the last eight years," Inspector Wacker said.

Two men are due to face court later this week on charges including drug supply and trafficking, and possession of a regulated poison.