Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Agents and a forensic chemist assigned to MDEA’s laboratory enforcement team converged on Houlton late Monday afternoon. Donning chemical and fire resistant clothing and air tanks, about a dozen team members first went to a wooded area at the end of First Street in Houlton. Houlton Fire and EMS were on site to assist with fire suppression and medical needs if they arose. Agents emerged from the woods, under the glare of spotlights, carrying a garbage bag and spent more than an hour slowly processing the contents. “We were there because we had reason to believe remnants of a meth lab were stashed in the woods. As it turns out, our information was right on.”
The large contingency of personnel and equipment, including two large MDEA crime scene units, a decontamination trailer, fire trucks and an ambulance then moved to a house trailer a short distance away on First Street. A search warrant was executed here and more time was spent here processing evidence from inside and outside the trailer. “Evidence found there is consistent with what we would expect to find where someone is making methamphetamine.” Agents seized samples of chemicals and solvents, as well as other items containing various components of the process.
Finally, the team moved to a garage adjacent to a house trailer on the west side of the Foxcroft Road, in Houlton to execute a second search warrant. The process repeated itself here as it did at the other two. “We seized enough evidence from this site to pretty clearly show what had been going on there.”
The process slowed noticeably on a couple occasions as team members had to spend extra time methodically addressing “gas generators” that were releasing toxic fumes. “These plastic containers have acid mixed with other items to create a toxic cocktail. They are used in the final step of the manufacturing process and pose a particularly high risk to responders.”
Agents left the final location around 1:30 a.m. after processing evidence at all three sites. Some of that evidence was taken to the state Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory in Augusta for analysis. Other items of contamination were turned over to responders from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for hazardous waste disposal. MDEA and DEP have a long-standing partnership and consistently respond jointly to all suspected lab incidents.
The Houlton Police Department, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department and State Police also dedicated considerable personnel resources to the response. “This was successful first and foremost because no one was injured and also because of the strong, collaborative approach by all involved.”
While no one has been charged, MDEA is focusing on several suspects. Once we have the analyses back from the forensic laboratory and our investigation is complete, we will coordinate with the District Attorney’s Office to bring charges. Anyone with information on the illegal manufacturing or sale of drugs may contact MDEA at 1-800-452-6457 or by going to their website: www.maine.gov/dps/mdea.