Dismantling of Mobile Meth Lab in Ellsworth Leads to Suspicious Device

According to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, after last week's mobile meth lab bust in Ellsworth, the MDEA's Downeast District Task Force and Clandestine Drug Laboratory Enforcement Team (CDLET) found a suspicious device in one of the labs not consistent with Methamphetamine manufacturing that led to assistance from the Maine State Police Bomb Squad.

The MDEA says that while agents dismantled the laboratories in an older model Buick and Chevrolet pick-up truck they found in the pick-up what appeared to be an improvised explosive device (IED). A Maine State Police Bomb Squad technician responded to the scene and disposed of the device by disrupting it. Further testing will be done to determine whether or not it was in fact an explosive device.

Authorities report that agents from around the state along with a State of Maine Chemist dismantled two “One Pot” laboratories. Samples found inside the laboratories were retained for criminal prosecution in the future.

Assisting MDEA CDLET was the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the safe disposal of the hazardous waste related to the laboratories.