Four Suspects Arrested After Another Meth Lab Bust in Lexington

Lexington County continues a successful campaign to crack down on drug trafficking and  meth labs across the area; four suspects were arrested on Tuesday, June 3rd, for operating a meth lab.

On Tuesday around 1:40 PM, Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies went to a home after receiving a tip about possibly illegal drug activity there. When the officers executed a search warrant on the home, they found meth, devices used to make meth in a meth lab, needles, pipes, and the gun. The officers called in NET to help with the arrests and meth lab clean-up.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the two men and two women had not had a bond hearing on the meth lab charges.

The Rise of Meth Labs in Lexington, South Carolina

Methamphetamine is an illegal, highly addictive drug made from common household chemicals and over the counter medication such as Sudafed. Although Sudafed is a behind the counter drug, it can be obtained in small quantities from your local drugstore.

The law enforcement officers in  Lexington County, South Carolina began a serious campaign last fall to round up criminals for manufacturing and/or distributing methamphetamines. The campaign has continued through 2014; officers are still serious about drug crimes, especially labs.

Since the beginning of the year, Lexington officials have busted 44 meth labs and arrested 66 people, including the six arrested over the weekend.

Statistics from 2000 show that South Carolina had one of the lowest rates of methamphetamine use in the country.  Much has changed in the past 14 years.

These numbers are changing as meth labs become more portable and meth manufacturers become more savvy. Between 2007 and 2011, incidents of busted meth labs increased more than 10 times – 26 in 2007, to 267 in 2011. News reports show meth lab busts in some part of South Carolina nearly every week.

Two years ago, South Carolina lawmakers attempted to stop the fast-growing trend by placing limits on the amount of pseudoephedrine customers can purchase, and pharmacists – who keep the drug behind counters – swipe the customer’s driver’s license to see if limits have been met. Electronic tracking should, in theory, stop meth manufacturers from buying large amounts of the necessary chemical.

However, the portable meth labs use less of the drug by creating smaller amounts of methamphetamine.

All meth labs use dangerous, deadly chemicals, and are prone to explosions – even the portable ones. In the shake and bake method, manufacturers must constantly unscrew the lid of the bottle to relieve pressure. When not monitored closely, the bottles can explode, spraying dangerous chemicals everywhere.

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 drugs, the 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.