POLICE uncovered a secret stash of uranium in country Victoria during a series of top-level drug raids yesterday.

They have no idea why a drug suspect would have hidden the material in a storage area near Bendigo.

Detectives from the Petra Taskforce and Ethical Standards Department, backed by the Special Operations Group carried out eight raids in Melbourne and country Victoria.

They allegedly found a working amphetamine lab in a house in Preston. But they also found about 300 grams of uranium oxide in a Harcourt Storage property.

A team from the Department of Human Services wearing special protective gear was called in remove the uranium and take it to a safe facility.