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Watauga Sheriff’s Office Investigating Remnants of Two Meth Labs Found in Todd and Along Blue Ridge Parkway

Remnants of the "shake-and-bake" meth lab found along Blue Ridge Parkway.
Remnants of the “shake-and-bake” meth lab found along Blue Ridge Parkway.

May 5, 2014. The remnants of two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories have been discovered and seized by patrol deputies and narcotics detectives from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office.

Both methamphetamine labs were characteristic of the Red Phosphorous method of manufacture.  This method is not as prevalent today due to easier and faster methods of production, such as the “shake and bake” method, commonly referred to as the One Pot Method.

A methamphetamine lab was located behind the property of 122 South Road in Todd.  The lab components were found by children who were playing in the area.  The Sheriff’s Office was contacted and made aware of the suspected methamphetamine lab.  Shift Supervisor Lt. Phillips, who is clandestine lab certified, arrived on scene and confirmed that the components were characteristic of a methamphetamine lab.  Narcotics detectives were notified of the situation.  Once on scene, detectives seized multiple items used in the manufacturing process.  The methamphetamine precursors appeared to be non-hazardous and were disposed of by narcotics detectives.

An additional red phosphorous methamphetamine lab was located and seized near the Stoney Fork Overlook which is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Park Rangers from the US Department of Interior located items consisted with the manufacture of methamphetamine and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.  Narcotics detectives seized multiple methamphetamine precursors consistent with the red phosphorous method of manufacture.  The methamphetamine precursors appeared to be non-hazardous and were disposed of by narcotics detectives. Both investigations are ongoing.

Remnants of the "shake-and-bake" meth lab found in Todd.
Remnants of the “shake-and-bake” meth lab found in Todd.