Meth lab maybe – Federal, local officials disagree what was happening at Allenstown trailer

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:25:00 GMT

Federal agents are undecided whether the evidence found at 10 Edgewood Drive will confirm what local law enforcement believe, that a methamphetamine lab was operating in a run-down mobile home near Bear Brook State Park.

If proven to be a methamphetamine lab, this would be the first full-blown lab the state has seen.

Local law enforcement entered the Edgewood Drive home on July 27 because it was believed to be a methamphetamine lab.

But, according to Tony Pettigrew, the information officer for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, only confirmed box labs have been found in New Hampshire, and his agency is still undecided as to what, if anything, was going on in that mobile home. A box lab is a personal use lab, where the entire lab can fit into a cardboard box and be easily carried.

Additionally, there has been no methamphetamine labs discovered in New England this year, box or otherwise.

“It is pretty significant that we are halfway through the year and not one confirmed meth lab has been discovered yet,” said Pettigrew.

Allenstown police were initially dispatched to the mobile home as the Olde Towne Homeowners co-operative park is in the process of evicting the owners, Waldo and Susan Brown. Waldo Brown is currently in prison for alcohol-related charges. Susan Brown currently lives at 264 Pinewood Road and gave police permission to enter the property.

The mobile home, which was said to be vacant, has had people coming and going, said Allenstown Police Chief Shaun Mulholland. He declined to elaborate on what brought officers to seek permission to enter the trailer.

Outside the trailer are piles of trash and debris, including several gas grills, large chemical barrels, glass tubing and what appears to be drug-making paraphernalia.

“Our agents, who have a lot of experience with meth labs, haven’t confirmed that it is a lab yet. It is still very much under investigation,” said Pettigrew. Evidence from the mobile home was sent to a state lab for examination.

But Mulholland is certain 10 Edgewood Drive was a methamphetamine lab operating in a dense neighborhood.

“Absolutely, what we uncovered up there was a meth lab,” said Mulholland.

Mulholland is waiting for grand jury indictments for “less than 10 local people,” he said, and it could take several weeks.

Linda Tomlinson, spokeswoman U.S. Attorney’s Office was hushed on the indictments.

“I can neither confirm or deny anything in regards to this matter,” said Tomlinson.

As for methamphetamine in New Hampshire, Pettigrew said it is more likely imported from another state than made here. And when a lab is uncovered, it is typically the box, personal-use type lab; so far, never a large operation.

“It is hard to say what draws certain drugs where, but so far New England has been fortunate not to have the problems other parts of the country have,” said Pettigrew.

Meth lab discovered

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:42:00 GMT

BY SUSAN WARE

A two-year investigation led local and federal law enforcement agencies to raid a mobile home in Allenstown, shutting down what appears to have been a methamphetamine lab.

“This is not over. It is just beginning,” said Allenstown Police Chief Shaun Mulholland.

According to Mulholland, he is waiting for a federal grand jury to hand down drug trafficking indictments on “less than 10 people.” Because the suspects will be facing federal charges, it had not been determined whether Allenstown police or U.S.
Marshals will make the arrests. Mulholland expects the federal indictments to take at least another week.

The mobile home at 10 Edgewood Drive had been vacant since June, but there has been activity there, said Mulholland.

Because the case is ongoing, he would not say how the lab was discovered.

The mobile home is owned by Susan and Waldo Brown. Waldo Brown is currently incarcerated for a fourth DWI offense and for being a habitual offender. Susan Brown now lives at 264 Pinewood Road and gave police permission to enter the trailer on Friday, July 27.

Outside the trailer are piles of trash and debris, including several gas grills, large chemical barrels, glass tubing and other drug-making paraphernalia.

The Olde Towne Homeowners Co-op that owns the mobile home park near Bear Brook State Park is currently in the process of evicting the Browns, said Mulholland.

Neighbors of 10 Edgewood Drive declined to comment, saying that this incident was giving their park a bad reputation and that they wanted it to go away.

While other parts of the country seem to be shutting down methamphetamine labs on a regular basis, New Hampshire has had only a handful.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, a methamphetamine lab has not been discovered in New Hampshire since 2003, when a single lab was found. Over the last five years, there have been five methamphetamine labs discovered in the Granite State.

Allenstown News : drugs

Meth lab maybe – Federal, local officials disagree what was happening at Allenstown trailer

Meth lab discovered