Take a closer look at the raid led by the Gwinnett County (Ga.) PD's Special Investigation Section of a meth house in suburban Atlanta that resulted in the seizure of almost a half-ton of methamphetamine with a street value of $44 million. Police arrested a Texas man in connection with the bust. Photos courtesy of Gwinnett County PD.
Meth Superlab In Georgia
Local and federal law enforcement officers seized crystal and liquid methamphetamine worth an estimated $44 million from a suburban Atlanta home.
The Atlanta Field Division of the DEA sent its Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team wearing white "bunny suits" to collect evidence from a clandestine conversion lab discovered in Gwinnett County, Ga.
Properties used as meth labs often have serious sanitation and safety issues, including physical and electrical hazards. Sanitation issues can complicate a chemical risk assessment, and residues of chemicals remaining at a former meth lab are a concern for people who later use the property.
During the production of crystal meth, workers use acetone to wash off the oil, or "purify," the narcotic.
Methamphetamine is often dissolved in water (liquefied) for the purposes of transporting it. Once shipped to its destination, the water is boiled away, leaving the drug in solid form.
Chemicals used in meth labs include flammable and volatile solvents such as methanol, ether, benzene, methylene chloride, trichloroethane, and toluene. Other common household chemicals include muriatic acid, sodium hydroxide, table salt, and ammonia. Propane tanks are used to heat the material.
A closer look at an evidence container of crystal meth seized Monday during the raid. Agents seized approximately 150 pounds of finished crystal meth product and 200 gallons of liquid meth that yields 3-8 pounds of crystal, or "ice."