Public Information Release
March 28, 2012
Sergeant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer
The Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force located four methamphetamine labs at the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake.
On Thursday March 22, 2012 at approximately 12:30 pm the Lake County Narcotics Task Force responded to the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake at the request of the Lake County Fire Protection District HAZMAT Team. The HAZMAT team had responded to the landfill after the operator of a bulldozer had run over a black plastic garbage bag as he was moving garbage. The contents of the bag began to off gas, which produced a large visible chemical cloud.
The narcotics detectives located several two liter bottles containing both solid and liquid materials. Based on the detectives’ training and experience it was determined that the bottles were used to manufacture methamphetamine, using what is referred to as the Birch Reduction method. A search of the trash by both the Lake County HAZMAT Team and narcotics detectives, were unable to provide any leads as to who was responsible for the labs. They were also unable to locate any additional items associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the communities of Lake County and seize the suspected profits of drug trafficking for the asset forfeiture whenever possible. Anyone with information that can assist the Task Force with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 263-3663.
