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Six Arrested in Meth Lab Bust in Lexington

Six Suspects Arrested in Meth Lab Bust in Lexington

meth lab bustSix people – five men and one woman – were arrested on Wednesday, March 12th, for operating a meth lab out of a home in Lexington.

Joe Cecil Clark, 19, Charles Walter Huggins, IV, 24, Lakisha Rachelle Shealy, 18, Carl William Smith, 45, Terry Wayne Smith, Sr., 59, and Terry Wayne Smith, Jr., 34 are facing several drug charges for the meth lab officers found in the home. Clark and Shealy were specifically charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine, and simple possession of marijuana. The Smiths were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and improperly disposing of waste from a methamphetamine laboratory, and Huggins was arrested on a charge of manufacturing methamphetamine.

On Wednesday, officers received a tip that a meth lab was operating out of the home. At 4:22 PM, deputies arrived with a search warrant to inspect the premises. Police found a live reaction vessel active in the home and arrested the six people who were in the house.

The Rise of Meth Labs in South Carolina

Statistics from 2000 show that South Carolina had one of the lowest rates of methamphetamine use in the country. However, those 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 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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  1. […] Six Suspects Arrested in Meth Lab Bust in Lexington Six people – five men and one woman – were arrested on Wednesday, March 12th, for operating a meth lab out of a home in Lexington. Joe Cecil Clark, 19, Charles Walter Huggins, IV, 24, Lakisha Rachelle Shealy, 18, Carl William Smith, 45, Terry Wayne Smith, Sr., 59, […] The post Six Arrested in Meth Lab Bust in Lexington appeared first on South Carolina Drug Crimes Attorneys. See Original Article […]

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