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Three Meth Lab Busts in SC Over the Weekend

As Methamphetamine Use Grows in SC, Police Bust Three Meth Labs Over the Weekend

meth lab bustThe Southern United States is the epicenter of a methamphetamine epidemic, and South Carolina is not immune to the problem. Statistics from the White House show that meth lab busts have increased across the state by 158%, from 130 busts in 2008 to 335 in 2011. That number far exceeds the national trend – while police seize and destroy more meth labs across the country on average, the number of meth lab busts in the US has only gone up 53% between 2008 and 2011.

This past August weekend is no exception. Three meth labs were busted across the state of South Carolina, including one in Columbia, the capitol city.

On Thursday, August 7th, Chester area police busted a meth lab after receiving a tip about possible methamphetamine manufacturing in a home on Gregg Avenue. Police went to the home, which had suspected meth lab activity reported before, and arrested Charles Lanier, 23, and Victoria Boulware, 31, and charged the pair with conspiracy to possess a substance. Officers found meth lab paraphernalia, but no reported meth lab.

On Friday, August 8th, a house fire brought emergency responders to a home on Veterans Road around 5:30 PM. A man stood in the doorway of the house, with severe burns that were the result of a meth lab exploding while he attempted to manufacture methamphetamine. Four first responders were also taken to the hospital as a precaution, as they had been exposed to meth fumes.

Meth labs are highly volatile due to the nature of the chemical reaction, but South Carolina has seen a dramatic increase in portable meth labs, also called “one pot” or “shake and bake” labs, made from one-liter soda bottles. The temporary reaction vessels can make a small amount of meth and can then be easily disposed of.

On Saturday, August 9th, a couple was arrested in a Days Inn in Springdale, SC, after police found a 4-year-old child in a hotel room with an active meth lab and drug paraphernalia within the child’s reach. Crystal McDaniel, 30, and Sean Howard, 34, were arrested and charged for not only the meth lab, but child endangerment. Officers did not say how the child was related to either suspect, and the child is currently at a local hospital being treated for exposure to methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant, and those who become addicted to it will do almost anything to get a fix. The drug is ravaging South Carolina, and it is important for police to continue to bust meth labs. However, it is also important for law enforcement to understand the perspective of those desperate enough to manufacture such a dangerous chemical.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Meth Lab Drug Crimes Charges

The drug crime attorneys at Strom Law Firm, LLC will aggressively defend your case whether you are under investigation or have been arrested for drugs in all State and Federal Courts in South Carolina as well as the Federal Courts in Georgia. Drug cases, including meth lab busts, need to be examined from every angle, and in many cases are subject to mandatory minimum sentences. Aggressive representation can protect your future. Drug crime charges and drug busts in South Carolina are very serious. If you have been charged with possession, trafficking, or manufacturing drugsthe attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today by calling (803)252-4800.

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