NEWFIELD — A suspected methamphetamine lab is under investigation by The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency after deputies from the York County Sheriff’s Office noticed suspicious items at a home Monday.

Deputies from the York County Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve civil paperwork on Monday to the person who is renting a mobile home at 481 Stone Road, according to a prepared statement issued Tuesday by MDEA Cmdr. Scott Pelletier.

The resident was not at home at the time, but deputies noticed several items commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine outside the residence. These included gas generators made from soda bottles with rubber tubing affixed to the bottle openings, numerous empty pseudoephedrine blister packs and granular cold packs, along with other items, Pelletier reported.

Deputies notified the MDEA, and agents responded and set up a safety perimeter.

By late Tuesday morning, the MDEA lab team served a search warrant at the mobile home and its Clandestine Drug Laboratory Enforcement Team began investigating. Assisting MDEA was the Newfield Fire Department and Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which ensures the safe disposal of the hazardous waste related to the laboratories. Specially trained agents from around the state along with a chemist, utilizing specialized equipment and protective gear, dismantled about 10 “one-pot” laboratories, according to Pelletier. They also retained samples for testing and to assist in criminal prosecution.

Suspects in the investigation have been identified by police, but not yet charged, said Pelletier, and evidence collected at the scene along with the investigative report will be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office for charges. This is the 13th methamphetamine lab incident in Maine this year. In 2013, there were 20 incidents, he reported.

Methamphetamine manufacturing is extremely toxic and can be explosive, Pelletier said, and the coordinated efforts of MDEA, DEP and the Newfield Fire Department “resulted in the safe resolution of an extremely dangerous situation.”



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