Feds raid meth lab near Iroquois wildlife refuge
ALABAMA — Narcotics agents raided what they called a methamphetamine manufacturing operation here early this morning, located in a rundown mobile home located near the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
A team of agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Genesee County Sheriff's department broke down the door of the ramshackle trailer at 6:05 a.m.
"There is definitely an operational meth lab in the trailer," said Charles Tomaszewski, resident agent in charge of the Buffalo DEA office. "It's not very sophisticated, but it looks like they've been operating in there for quite some time."
Inside the trailer, watching television, agents said were two young men, one 20 years old, the other 17.
Dustin Benham, 20, was arrested. He and the owner of the trailer, Kenneth Mosholder, 44, will be charged in federal court with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, federal agents said. The teenager is not expected to be charged.
An array of rescue equipment highlighted the danger of methamphetamine labs with the dangerous chemicals used in their manufacture.
A team of agents dressed in white haz-mat suits and wearing respirators carried equipment out of the trailer and put it on a blue tarp.
The trailer is about 75 yards back from Lewiston Road, also called Route 77, in the town of Alabama.
"We don't often find meth out here in Genesee County, or even Buffalo," Tomaszewski said. "So this is significant."
DEA agents credited Genesee County Sheriff's deputies, led by Sheriff Gary Maha, with coming up with the information that led to this morning's raid.
Agents said they learned about a month ago that the man has been making dangerous, highly addictive crystal meth in his trailer on Lewiston Road. He will face federal charges and is expected to appear at federal court in Buffalo this afternoon.
Officials are expected to release details on the operation at a morning news conference.
Outside the trailer was a haz-mat truck from the DEA, an ambulance, a fire truck, a Genesee County emergency services van and six police cars.
Meth abuse is considered the nation's second-biggest drug problem, second only to cocaine, according to DEA officials. Meth abuse is especially widespread in rural communities, authorities say.
The DEA describes meth as a highly addictive stimulant that can cause psychotic behavior if used over a long period of time. It is often made in small home laboratories where there is an extreme danger of fire or explosion because of the volatile chemicals used.
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