Two People Arrested After Meth Lab Discovered in Springdale, SC

A man and a woman were arrested on Monday, March 3rd, after officers discovered a meth lab in a hotel in Springdale, SC.

The Springdale Police Department began an investigation after receiving an anonymous complaint about drug activity at the Carolina Lodge hotel near Airport Boulevard. When officers arrived at the hotel, one of the suspects was arrested based on an outstanding warrant. Police then observed meth lab materials in plain sight, so they filed for a search warrant for the premises.

While executing the search warrant, officers discovered multiple reaction vessels to create methamphetamine.

Suspects Samantha Driggers, 26, and Shane Lempp, 37, were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, as well as possession of altered pseudoephedrine. Driggers was also charged with petit larceny based on a previous arrest warrant.

Members of the Lexington County multi-agency Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted the Springdale Police Department with dismantling and properly disposing of the meth lab materials.

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

Federal and State drug charges in South Carolina carry some of the stiffest penalties in the nation. When faced with a drug charge, including charges for operating a meth lab, you need a lawyer who knows how the system works and will fight to protect your rights.

The drug possession and drug trafficking lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC,  include a former United States Attorney and Richland County Assistant Solicitor, a former Public Defender, and a former Assistant Attorney General and Richland County Assistant Solicitor. Mr. Strom has been given an AV-Rating, the highest ranking possible, from the respected legal guide Martindale-Hubble.

Whether you have been charged with:

• Possession of drugs
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Drug trafficking
• Possession of drugs in the proximity of a school
• Prescription Fraud
• Manufacturing Methamphetamine or
• Money laundering

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.