Code enforcement officers in the city of Palmdale made an extraordinary discovery this week while responding to an illegal dumping complaint at a vacant lot — a narcotics lab and more than 800 pounds of methamphetamine inside a cargo container.
The drug bust prompted multiple law enforcement agencies to descend on the vacant lot near the corner of 110th Street East and Ave M-8 in the unincorporated area of Lake Los Angeles, about 36 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. There, authorities uncovered what appeared to be a drug lab nestled in the cargo container.
Alejandro Hernandez Gutierrez, 22, was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing a controlled substance, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department news release.
Palmdale officials said the discovery was one of the most significant drug busts in recent years.
“This case is a powerful example of the important work our code enforcement team does every day to protect Palmdale neighborhoods,” said Mayor Eric Ohlsen in a statement. “What started as an illegal dumping investigation led to the removal of a massive amount of dangerous drugs from our community.”
The incident occurred Wednesday when officers responded to a vacant lot after receiving report of illegal dumping, according to a Palmdale news release.
City officials said the discovery quickly turned into a coordinated effort with partner agencies including the Sheriff’s Department, L.A. County Department of Public Health, L.A. County district attorney’s office and the Los Angeles Police Department.
In addition to the large amount of methamphetamine discovered, there were also materials and photos indicating multiple stages of narcotics production, authorities said.
“This investigation demonstrates how what initially appeared to be a routine call for service quickly evolved into the discovery of a sophisticated criminal enterprise capable of producing and distributing large quantities of methamphetamine,” said sheriff’s narcotics bureau Capt. Bobby Dean. “It also highlights the unpredictable and potentially life-threatening hazards law enforcement personnel encounter while protecting the public.”
The Sheriff’s Department has assumed the criminal investigation.