One of Rutherford County’s largest illegal methamphetamine labs was dismantled Sunday night at 1391 East Jefferson Pike after an anonymous tip to the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, a supervisor said.
Narcotics detectives found evidence of methamphetamine being manufactured using the red phosphorous method in a small shed in the Walter Hill community but none of the illegal drug was found, said SEB Lt. Egon Grissom.
“Red phosphorous is an old school method that yields more,” Grissom said. “The longer it cooks it’s believed to be a cleaner product.”
Methamphetamine, also known as crank, crystal methamphetamine and ice, sells for about $100 a gram. The high is similar to cocaine but meth lasts about five hours longer.
Detective Sedric Fields said renter and suspect Linda Moore, 41, who lived in the shed, was not home when SEB detectives obtained a search warrant. They found paraphernalia indicating red phosphorous was used to produce the illegal drug.
“The search warrant also revealed that methamphetamine had been processed at the residence on more than one occasion,” Grissom said. “The meth lab, along with all its paraphernalia, was dismantled by members of the Special Enforcement methamphetamine unit and processed.”
Fields obtained warrants for Moore to charge her with initiation of methamphetamine manufacture process and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of selling narcotics. People who know her location may call the sheriff’s office at 898-7770.
“We have information she was purchasing pseudo ephedrine for several years,” Fields said.
Pseudo ephedrine is a key component used in the manufacture of meth.
Sheriff Robert F. Arnold said Rutherford County historically has not experienced a large number of illegal methamphetamine labs and few red phosphorous labs.
“Red phosphorous labs have a higher grade and more pure meth than the ‘shake and bake’ method,” Arnold said. “It yields a pure white color.”
Investigators believe Moore sold the illegal drugs.
“By knocking this lab out, we should knock a substantial amount of meth off the streets,” Arnold said.
Also, taxpayers must pay to neutralize the chemicals found in highly toxic meth labs. SEB detectives quarantined the house. The property owner must pay for clean up before the shed can be rented again.
“Every meth cook produces about five to six pounds of contaminated waste,” Grissom said.
Special Enforcement narcotics immediately check any tips on methamphetamine labs. People with information may call 895-3609.
“One of our priorities is to make sure we get meth off the street,” Grissom said. “We don’t want it to get a foothold in the county.” |
Email
Print
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!