Large meth lab, 'cartel' operation found in Marietta during traffic stop
MARIETTA, Ga. - A routine traffic stop by the Georgia State Patrol on Oct. 1 led to the discovery of a large methamphetamine conversion lab in a residential neighborhood in Marietta near multiple elementary schools. The discovery was made by DEA Atlanta special agents and task force officers following the traffic stop.
Authorities arrested three individuals in connection with the lab on Pair Road, and seized approximately 500 kilograms of methamphetamine. The suspects who were found with Guatemalan passports are believed to be undocumented immigrants.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Murphy would only name two of the three suspects: Raul Morales and Anthony Alfredo Najaro Revolorio. "They were here solely to produce methamphetamine for distribution not only in the Atlanta area but up and down the coast of the U.S.," he said.
Murphy pointed out the significance of the nationalities involved, saying, "This is interesting to me from an investigative side. We clearly are making a dent in the chemists they are sending over because these two are from Guatemala. Even though they are associated with the cartel, they came from Guatemala and not from Mexico, so we might hopefully be making a dent."
The chemicals used in methamphetamine conversion labs are highly volatile, posing a significant risk of fire or explosion if improperly handled. This particular lab was located near nine elementary schools, seven middle schools, and nine high schools, heightening concerns for the safety of the community.
"Yeah, I think one of my agents told me they saw young girls riding their bicycles out literally in front of the house," SAC Murphy said. "Our teams have to go in full hazmat material, including breathers and tanks and everything. It's just dangerous chemicals."
The house looks like many of the other homes on the street, but the DEA says no one lived in the house. It was used only as a meth conversion lab. Neighbors say agents lined the street in front of the home Tuesday afternoon as people were out walking and young chrilen were riding their bikes nearby.
"Every part of the house was used for drying, allowing the crystalizing of the meth, that you see here. The other parts of the house were used to convert the liquid into the meth," said Murphy.
Residents say the people who they thought were living in the home had only been there for a few weeks. They're glad law enforcement caught them so quickly and seized the drugs.
The Drug Enforcement Administration said agents were tipped off last week, leading to the discovery of a major methamphetamine production site. The raid took place in what is typically described as a quiet neighborhood near several schools.
"When we walked in, the smell of meth was overwhelming," agents reported. The meth seized was primarily in the form of meth oil, stored in large garbage cans and ready to be processed into methamphetamine.
Murphy highlighted the scale and unusual location of the operation. "What's unusual about this situation is this is what we usually find in the jungles of Mexico, not in a neighborhood of Marietta with at least a dozen schools within a several-mile circumference, including an elementary school four-tenths of a mile away."
Authorities estimate that the 500 kilograms of meth seized would have had a street value of $1.5 million.
Murphy also noted the sophistication of the operation, which he described as both large and complex. "This requires highly experienced, chemist-type-level people to accomplish something like this. It was a very, as you can see, unlike what we normally see in a meth house or conversion lab. This was very clean, a huge operation."
While Murphy said the team knew which cartel the arrested trio was affiliated with, he did not name it during the presser. Instead, he said the DEA was mainly concerned about Sinaloa, Jalisco New Generation and La Familia in the metro Atlanta area.
Authorities expect more arrests as the investigation continues.