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SEARCHThe Atlanta Field Division of the DEA sent its Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team in white "bunny suits" to collect evidence at the site prior to clean up.
The DEA's Atlanta Field Division's Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team collects evidence from a clandestine conversion lab discovered in Gwinnett County, Ga. Photo courtesy of Gwinnett County PD.
Local and federal law enforcement officers seized crystal and liquid methamphetamine yielding 984 pounds and worth an estimated $44 million, after raiding a meth-production home in suburban Atlanta, according to authorities.
The slate gray two-story house in question had been unoccupied since 2008 and no one had been seen coming or going in months.
The raid came at 4:45 p.m. Monday, after investigators with the Gwinnett County (Ga.) PD's Special Investigation Section received a tip that a large amount of methamphetamine was being produced out of a home in Norcross, Gwinnett County.
After serving a warrant at the home, investigators discovered a large amount of crystal meth and liquid methamphetamine. It doesn't appear that anyone lived in the home, and authorities said the home was being strictly used for production of meth.
Due to the size of this lab and extremely hazardous situation, local investigators requested the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Norcross (Ga.) PD and Gwinnett County Fire/HAZMAT to collect evidence and clean up the hazardous material.
The Atlanta Field Division of the DEA sent its Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team in white "bunny suits" to collect evidence at the site prior to clean up.
Gwinnett County police arrested and charged Jose Galvez-Vela, 33, of Weslaco, Texas, for meth trafficking. Investigators are following up on several leads as to who is responsible for the production of meth from this home.
Agents seized approximately 150 pounds of finished crystal meth product and 200 gallons of meth liquid, which yields approximately 3-8 pounds of crystal, or "ice," per gallon.
DEA Atlanta Special Agent Rodney Benson described the operation as a "superlab" to AJC.com.
Read the full story at AJC.com.
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